T  H  E  L  I  F  E 


or 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER. 


ODEFLT  COMPILED  FROM  HIS  OWN  WRITIKOS. 


PUBLISHED  BY  THE 

AMERICAN  TRACT  SOCIETY, 

150  NASSAU-STREET,  NE^V-YOEK. 


D.  Faiisbaw,  Printer. 


CONTENTS. 


CiuPTER  I. — His  early  life  and  conversion. — His  fa- 
ther— early  vices — the  Bible  and  religious  books 
blessed  in  his  conversion — his  early  studies — fee- 
ble health — spiritual  conflicts— sources  of  comfort 
— death  of  his  mother — desire  to  be  tiseful. .     .    .  t 

Chapter  II. — His  ordination  and  first  public  engaoe- 
MENTs. — Preaches  at  Dudley — removes  to  Bridg- 
north— and  then  to  Kidderminster  21 

Chapter  III. — Hi.s  labors,  trials,  and  success  at  Kid- 
derminster.— Benefit  of  previous  trials — branded 
as  a  traitor — hardly  escapes  with  life — leaves  Kid- 
derminster and  preaches  to  soldiers  at  Coventry — 
becomes  chaplain  of  a  regiment  under  Cromwell — 
failure  of  his  health — writes  the  Saints'  Rest — re- 
turns to  Kidderminster,  and  remains  fourteen 
years — character  of  his  labors — acts  as  a  physi- 
cian— success  of  his  ministry — various  moans  of 
usefulness  employed — his  "  Reformed  Pastor  " — 
is  consulted  by  Cromwell — writes  his  "  Call  to  the 
Unconverted,"  and  o'ther  works  25 

Chapter  IV. — His  engagements  after  leaving  Kidder- 
minster.— Visits  London — preaches  to  parliament 
— interview  witl.  t-be  king — attempts  to  reconcile 


4 


CONTENTS. 


the  conflicting  parties — declines  a  bishopric — for- 
bidden to  return  to  Kidderminster — his  interest  in 
missions  to  the  Indians — writes  to  Eliot — great  con- 
cern for  the  conversion  of  the  world — further  un- 
successful attempts  at  reconciliation — is  accused  of 
sedition — preaches  in  London — not  allowed  to  ad- 
dress his  people  at  Kidderminster— is  ejected,  with 
2,000  others,  by  the  "Act  of  Uniformity  " — his  mar- 
riage— the  plague  and  fire  in  London — preaches  in 
his  ovm  house — acquaintance  with  Judge  Hale.    .  60 

Chapter  V. — His  persecution',  trials,  and  DE.tTH. — Is 
apprehended  and  ca.st  into  prison,  where  he  is  kept 
in  great  peace — is  oflered  preferment  by  the  king 
of  Scotland — reasons  for  declining  it — is  licensed 
to  preach  again,  under  restrictions — preaches  in 
London — writes  the  "  Poor  Man's  Family  Book," 
and  other  works — great  success  in  preaching — in- 
terrupted by  persecutions — death  of  Mrs.  Baxter — 
feeble  health  and  further  persecutions — commences 
a  "  Paraphrase  of  the  New  Testament" — is  char- 
ged with  sedition  for  writing  it — mock  trial  before 
Lord  Chief  Justice  Jeffries — is  two  years  impri- 
soned— Matthew  Henry's  description  of  his  pa- 
tience— he  is  released  from  prison — preaches  in 
his  own  house — last  sickness— death  89 

Chapter  VI.— His  person,  views  of  himself,  and  ge- 
neral CHARACTER. — His  pcrsoH — his  survey  of  his 
own  character,  showing  the  changes  from  his  ear- 
lier to  his  riper  years — character  of  his  prayers — 
of  his  sermons — his  works — his  bodily  sufferings — 
love  to  souls — walk  with  God  123 


NOTE. 


The  life  of  this  eminent  servant  of  God,  abound- 
ing with  striking  incidents,  and  adapted  to  be  use- 
ful to  all,  is  published  nearly  in  the  present  form 
by  the  Religious  Tract  Society  in  London.  Some 
corrections  of  obscure  phraseology  and  antique  style 
are  here  made,  without  altering  the  character  of  the 
narrative.  The  reader  will  be  struck  with  his  extra- 
ordinary reliance  on  the  efficacy  of  prayer  ;  his  abun- 
dant labors  as  a  pastor;  the  rudeness,  ignorance,  and 
persecuting  spirit  of  the  age  in  which  he  lived  ;  his 
burning  zeal  for  the  spread  of  the  Gospel  at  that 
early  period  of  modern  missions ;  the  great  variety  of 
works  he  was  enabled  to  write,  though  in  a  very  low 
state  of  health  ;  and  the  wonderful  extent  to  which 
the  powers  of  the  mind  may  be  kept  up  by  the  ha- 
bitual exercise  of  them,  even  amid  the  multiplied 
infirmities  of  old  age. 

A  more  full  account  of  the  man,  comprising  a 
description  of  his  voluminous  writings,  may  be  found 
by  the  student  in  "  Baxter's  Life  and  Times,  by  Rev. 
William  Orme  • "  2  vols,  octavo. 


REV. 


L.IFE  OF 

THE 

RICHARD  BAXTER 


CHAPTER  I. 

HIS  EARLY  LIFE  AND  CONVERSION. 

Richard  Baxter  was  born  at  Rowton,  Shropshire, 
(England,)  on  the  12th  of  November,  1615.  He  resided 
in  that  village  with  his  maternal  grandfather  till  he 
was  nearly  ten  years  of  age,  when  he  was  taken  home 
to  live  with  his  parents  at  Eaton  Conslantine,  in  the 
same  county.  His  father,  he  says,  "  had  the  competent 
estate  of  a  freeholder,  free  from  the  temptations  of  po- 
verty and  riches;  but  having  been  addicted  to  gaming 
in  his  youth,  as  was  also  his  father  before  him,  it  was 
so  entangled  by  debts,  that  it  occasioned  some  excess 
of  worldly  cares  before  it  was  freed." 

The  father  of  Richard  Baxter,  about  the  time  cf  his 
son's  birth,  became  seriously  impressed  with  the  im- 
portance of  divine  truth,  and  appears  to  have  subse- 
quently become  a  sincere  follower  of  the  Redeemer. 
His  conversion  was  effected  chiefly  through  the  instru- 
mentality of  reading  the  Scriptures.  He  had  but  few 
opportunities  of  attending  on  other  means  of  grace. 
Many  of  the  pulpits  were  occupied  by  ministers  igno- 


8 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


rant  of  ihe  truili  as  it  is  in  Jesus ;  and  those  who  preach- 
ed the  Gospel  in  its  purity  were,  for  the  most  part,  so 
despised  and  contemned,  that  it  required  no  small  share 
of  moral  courage  to  attend  on  their  ministry.  Convert- 
ed himself,  he  became  anxious  for  the  salvation  of  his 
only  son.  He  directed  the  attention  of  his  youthful 
charge  to  tlie  sacred  Scriptures,  whence  he  had  himself 
derived  so  much  benent.  Nor  were  his  in&irueiions 
and  efforts  al together  vain.  Baxter  thus  mgenuousiy 
confesses  his  early  &ins  and  convictions,  in  his  history 
of  his  own  life  and  times  : 

At  first  my  father  set  me  to  read  the  liistorica]  parts 
of  Scripture,  which,  suiting  with  my  nature,  greatly 
delighted  me;  and  though  all  that  time  I  neither  un- 
derstood nor  relished  much  the  doctrinal  part  and  mys- 
tery of  redemption,  yet  it  did  me  good,  by  acquainting 
me  with  the  matters  of  fact,  and  drawing  me  on  to  love 
the  Bible,  and  to  search  by  degrees  into  the  rest. 

"  But  though  my  conscience  would  trouble  me  when 
I  sinned,  yet  diveta  sins  I  was  addicted  to,  and  often 
committed  against  uiy  conscience;  which,  lor  the  warn- 
ing of  others,  I  will  here  confess,  to  my  shame. 

"  1.  I  was  much  addicted,  when  I  feared  correction, 
to  lie,  that  I  might  escape. 

"  2.  I  was  much  addicted  to  the  excessive  gluttonous 
eatingof  apples  and  pears,  which,  I  think,  laid  the  foun- 
dation of  that  weakness  of  my  stomach  which  caused 
the  bodily  calamities  of  my  life. 

"  3.  To  this  end,  and  to  concur  with  naughty  boys 
that  gloried  in  evil,  I  have  often  gone  into  other  men's 
orchards,  and  stolen  their  fruit,  when  I  had  enough  at 
home. 

"4.  I  was  somewhat  excessively  addicted  to  play, 
and  that  with  covetousness  for  money. 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


9 


"  5.  I  was  extremely  bewitched  with  a  love  of  ro- 
mances, fables,  and  old  tales,  which  corrupted  my  affec- 
tions and  wasted  my  time. 

"  6.  I  was  guilty  of  much  idle  foolish  chat,  and  imi- 
tation of  boys  in  scurrilous  foolish  words  and  actions, 
though  I  durst  not  swear. 

"  7.  I  was  too  proud  of  the  commendations  of  my 
instructors,  who  all  of  them  fed  my  pride,  making  me 
seven  or  eight  years  the  highest  in  the  school,  and 
boasting  of  me  to  others;  which,  though  it  furthered 
my  learning,  yet  helped  not  my  humility. 

"  8.  I  was  too  bold  and  irreverent  towards  my  pa- 
rents. 

"  These  were  my  sins,  with  which,  in  my  childhood, 
conscience  troubled  me  for  a  great  while  before  they 
were  overcome." 

His  convictions  gathered  strength,  although  occa- 
sionally resisted.  The  temptations  to  neglect  religion 
were  strong  and  powerful.  The  reproach  cast  on  his 
father  and  others,  who,  for  their  desire  and  pursuit  of 
lioliness,  were  contemptuously  designated  "Puritans," 
proved  for  a  season  a  stumbling-block  in  his  path.  Still, 
iiowever,  the  reflecting  mind  of  the  son  led  him  to  dis- 
cern the  difference  between  the  conduct  of  his  father 
and  that  of  his  calumniators,  and  to  conclude  that  there 
was  more  of  reason  and  truth  in  a  life  of  holiness,  tlian 
in  a  life  of  impiety  and  rebellion  against  the  majesty 
of  heaven.  He  says  : 

"  In  the  village  where  I  lived,  the  Reader  read  the 
common  prayer  briefly;  and  the  rest  of  the  day,  even 
till  dark  night  almost,  except  eating  time,  was  spent 
in  dancing  under  a  may-pole  and  a  great  tree,  not  far 
from  my  father's  door,  where  all  the  town  met  toge- 
ther :  and  though  one  of  my  father's  own  tenants  was 


10 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


the  piper,  he  could  not  re*irain  him  not  break  the 
sport:  so  that  we  could  not  read  the  Scripture  in  our 
family  without  the  great  disturbance  of  the  taber  and 
pipe,  and  noise  in  the  street  1*  Many  times  my  mind 
was  inclined  to  be  among  them,  and  sometimes  I  broke 
loose  from  my  conscience  and  joined  with  them ;  and 
the  more  I  did  it,  the  more  I  was  inclined  to  it.  But 
when  I  heard  them  call  my  father  '  Puritan,-  it  did 
much  to  cure  me  and  alienate  me  from  them ;  for  I 
considered  that  ray  father's  exercise  of  reading  the 
Scripture  was  better  than  theirs,  and  would  surely  be 
judged  better  by  all  men  at  the  last;  and  I  considered 
what  it  was.  for  which  he  and  others  were  thus  derided. 
M'hen  I  heard  them  speak  scornfully  of  others,  as  Pu- 
ritans, whom  I  never  knew,  I  was  at  first  apt  to  beliere 
all  the  lies  and  slanders  wherewith  they  loaded  them ; 
but  when  I  heard  my  own  father  so  reproached,  and 
perceived  that  drunkards  were  the  most  forward  in  the 
reproach.  I  perceived  that  it  was  mere  malice.  For  my 
father  never  objected  to  common  prayer  or  ceremonies, 
nor  spoke  against  bishops,  nor  ever  so  much  as  prayed 
but  by  a  book  or  form,  being  unacquainted  then  with 
any  that  did  otherwise.  But  only  for  reading  Scripture 
when  the  rest  were  dancing  on  the  Lord's  day,  and  for 
praying  by  a  form  out  of  the  end  of  the  common 
prayer  book,  in  his  house,  and  for  reproving  drunkards 
and  swearers,  and  for  talking  sometimes  a  few  words 
of  Scripture,  and  about  the  life  to  come,  he  was  reviled 
commonly  by  the  name  of  Puritan.  Precisian,  and  Hy- 
pocrite ;  and  so  were  the  godly  ministers  that  lived  in 
the  country  near  us,  not  only  by  our  neighbors,  but  by 

*  These  profanations  of  the  Lx>rd'«i  dmv  were  authorised  amd 

encouraged  by  the  roval  proclamatiou.  called  the  Book  of 
Sports,  set  forth  A.  D.  lolS.— See  Life  of  Bishop  HaU,  p.  36. 


hllh   OF  BAXTER. 


11 


the  common  talk  of  the  multitude  all  about  us.  By  this 
observation  I  was  fully  convinced  that  godly  people 
were  the  best;  and  those  that  despised  them,  and  lived 
in  sin  and  pleasure,  were  a  malignant,  unhappy  sort  of 
people ;  and  ttiis  kept  me  out  of  their  company,  except 
now  and  then,  when  the  love  of  sports  and  play  en- 
ticed me." 

When  about  fifteen  years  of  age,  "  it  pleased  God," 
he  writes,  of  his  wonderful  mercy,  to  open  my  eyes 
with  a  clearer  insight  into  tlie  concerns  and  case  of  my 
own  soul,  and  to  touch  my  heart  with  a  livelier  feel- 
ing of  things  spiritual  than  ever  I  had.  foiind  before." 
While  under  this  concern,  a  poor  man  in  the  town 
lent  his  father  an  old  torn  book,  entitled  "Bunny's 
Resolutions."  "  In  reading  this  book,"  he  observes, 
"  it  pleased  God  to  awaken  my  soul,  and  show  me  the 
folly  of  sinning,  and  the  misery  of  the  wicked,  and  the 
inexpressible  weight  of  things  eternal,  aiid  the  neces- 
sity of  resolving  on  a  holy  Vile,  hiore  than  "I  was  ever 
acquainted  with  before.  The  same  things  which  I 
knew  before,  came  now  in  another  manner,  with  light, 
and  sense,  and  seriousness  to  my  iieart." 

"  Yet,  whether  sincere  con  version  began  now,  or  be- 
fore, or  after,  I  was  never  able  to  this  day  to  know ;  for 
I  had  before  had  some  love  to  the  things  and  people 
that  were  good,  and  a  restraint  from  sins,  except  those 
foremeutioned  ;  and  so  much  "from  iriost  of  those,  that 
I  seldom  committed  them,  and  when  I  did,  it  was  with 
great  reluctance.  And,  both  now  and  formerly,  I  knew 
that  Christ  was  the  only  mediator  by  whom  we  must 
have  pardon,'  justification,  and  life;  but  I  liad  little 
lively  sense  of  the  love  of  God  in  Ciirist  to  tiie  world 
or  me,  or  of  my  special  need  of  him  !" 
,  "  About  this  time  it  pleased  God  that  a  poor  pedlar 


12 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


came  to  the  door  with  ballads  and  some  good  books, 
and  my  father  bought  of  him  Dr.  Sibbs'  'Bruised  Reed.' 
This,  also,  I  read,  and  found  it  suited  to  my  taste,  and 
seasonably  sent  me  ;  which  opened  more  the  love  of 
God  to  me,  and  gave  me  a  livelier  apprehension  of  the 
inysiery  of  redemption,  and  of  iny  obligations  to  Jesus 
Christ.-' 

'*  After  this,  we  had  a  servant  who  had  a  little  piece 
of  Mr.  Perkins'  works,  *  Of  Repentance,'  and  the 
'Art  of  living  and  dying  well,'  and  the  '  Government 
of  the  Tongue;'  and  the  reading  of  that  did  further 
inform  me,  and  confirm  me.  And  thus,  without  any 
vwans  but  books,  was  God  pleased  to  resolve  me  for 
himself." 

Various  are  the  means  by  wliich  God  awakens  the 
soul  to  a  sense  of  its  danger,  and  leads  it  to  the  know- 
ledge and  enjoyment  of  himself.  The  pulpit  and  the 
school,  conversation  and  reading,  correspondence  and 
lid  vice,  have  bepn  employed  as  instruments  in  the 
hands  of  the  Eternal  Spirit  in  etfecting  the  conversion 
of  souls.  To  preaching,  as  the  express  appointment  of 
God,  must  be  ascribed  the  highest  place  ;  but  inferior 
only  to  it  is  the  instrumentality  of  religious  books. 
In  places  where  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  is  un- 
known or  unattended,  tiie  distribution  of  such  books 
is  of  the  utmost  importance.  To  such  bowks  Baxter 
was  greatly  indebted  for  his  conversion  :  and  having 
derived  so  much  benefit  from  this  means,  he  ever  after 
employed  it  extensively  among  his  friends,  his  flock, 
'  and  all  to  whom  his  influence  would  reach.  The  facili- 
ties afforded,  in  the  present  day,  for  the  dissemination  of 
religious  knowledge  are  truly  astonishing  ;  and  among 
others,  the  efforts  of  Religious  Tract  Societies,  with 
their  millions  of  publications,  should  not  be  overlooked. 


LIFE  OF  BAXTER. 


13 


Many  will  arise  in  the  last  day,  and  acknowledge  that 
their  conversion  was  effected  by  means  of  these  publi- 
cations. Nor  is  it  the  least  advantage  of  these  institu- 
tions, that  they  afford  an  opportunity  to  persons  in  the 
humblest  circumstances  to  be  instrumental  in  doing 
good  to  their  fellow-creatures.  They  can  give  a  Tract, 
though  they  cannot  deliver  a  discourse  ;  they  can  send 
a  Tract  wliere  they  cannot  visit  in  person  ;  they  can 
circulate  books  where  they  cannot  engage  in  religious 
conversation.  In  the  formation  of  Baxter's  early  reli- 
gious opinions  and  character,  we  see  the  instrumen- 
tality of  a  laborer,  a  pedlar,  and  a  servant  employed. 
The  sovereignty  of  God  is  clearly  seen  in  the  agents 
and  means  of  salvation.  "  His  wisdom  is  unsearch- 
able, and  his  ways  are  past  finding  out."  "  To  God, 
only  wise,  be  all  the  glory." 

Baxter's  early  education  was  greatly  neglected.  His 
professed  teachers  were  either  incompetent  to  their 
task,  or  suffered  him  to  be  occupied  rather  as  he  chose 
than  according  to  any  regular  plan.  Notwithstanding 
this  neglect  and  irregularity,  he  made  considerable 
progress.  He  rose  superior  *.o  every  ditTiculty,  and  in 
due  time  became  qualified  to  enter  the  university.  He 
was  persuaded,  however,  not  to  enter  college,  but  to 
pursue  his  studies  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Wick- 
stead,  chaplain  to  the  council  at  Ludlow  Castle.  Being 
his  only  pupil,  it  was  expected  that,  through  the  un- 
divided attention  of  his  tutor,  his  proficiency  would 
be  greater  than  either  at  Cambridge  or  Oxford.  The 
preceptor  became  much  attached  to  the  pupil ;  but 
being  in  earnest  quest  of  place  and  preferment,  he 
neglected  his  charge.  He  allowed  him  "  books  and 
time  enough,"  but  never  seriously  attempted  to  in- 
struct and  improve  his  mind.  Nor  was  this  the  only 

L.   B.  2 


14 


LIFE   OF  DAXTER. 


disadvantage  attending  liis  residence  at  Ludlow,  for 
lie  was  thrown  into  gay  and  fasliioiiable  society,  and 
was  exposed  to  tiie  various  temptations  incident  to 
sucli  a  situation.  His  religious  principles  were  in  dan- 
ger of  being  corrupted  or  destroyed  by  tiie  practice  of 
gambling;  but  he  was  enabled,  by  the  grace  of  (lod, 
lo  escape  tiie  snaze,  and  to  resist  all  subsequent  at- 
tempts to  lead  him  astray.  In  this  situation  he  formed 
an  iiitimacy  witli  a  young  man  of  professed  piety,  but 
who,  at  length,  by  the  seductive  influence  of  liquor, 
became  an  apostate.  At  this  period,  however,  he  in- 
t^.inicled  young  Baxter  '*  in  the  way  of  God  more  per- 
fectly ;"  prayed  with  him,  exhorted  and  encouraged 
liim  in  Ills  religious  course,  and  thus  became  of  essen- 
tial service  lo  his  young  friend.  Baxter  remained  with 
his  tutor  about  a  year  and  a  half,  and  then  returned 
home.  At  the  request  of  lord  Newport,  he  look  the 
charge  of  the  grammHr  scho(d  at  Wroxeler  for  a  short 
time,  as  the  master  wr.s  in  a  dying  state.  On  his  death, 
Baxter  left  this  charge,  and  pursued  his  studies  and 
religious  inquiries  under  the  direction  of  the  venerable 
Mr.  Garbett,  a  minister  of  Wroxeter. 

The  health  of  Baxter  was  in  a  precarious  slate,  and, 
in  the  prospect  of  eternity,  lie  became  more  solicito.rs 
to  improve  ids  remaining  days  in  the  worship^  and 
ways,  and  service  of  God.  He  says  : 

Heing  in  expectation  of  death,  by  a  violent  cough, 
with  spitting  of  blood,  &c.  of  two  years  continuance, 
F'ipposed  to  be  a  consumption,  I  was  awakened  to  be 
more  solicitous  about  my  soul's  everlasting  state ;  and 
1  came  so  short  of  that  sense  and  seriousness  whicli  a 
matter  of  such  hifinite  weight  required,  that  I  was  ma- 
ny years  in  doubt  of  my  sincerity,  and  thought  I  had 
no  spiritual  life  at  al!.  I  wondered  at  the  seitdeless 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


15 


• 

hardness  of  my  heart,  that  I  could  think  and  talk  of 
sin  and  hell,  and  Christ  and  grace,  of  God  and  heaven 
with  no  more  feeling.  1  cried  from  day  lo  day  to  God 
for  grace  agains;  this  senseless  deadness.  I  called  my- 
self the  most  hard-hearted  sinner,  lliat  coiild  feel  no- 
thing of  ail  that  I  knew  and  talked  of.  I  was  not  then 
sensible  of  the  incomparable  excellence  of  holy  love 
and  delight  in  God,  nor  much  employed  in  thanksgiv- 
ing and  praise  ;  but  all  my  groans  were  for  more  con- 
trition and  a  broken  heart,  and  I  prayed  n:iost  for  tears 
and  tenderness. 

"  Thus  was  I  long  kept  with  the  calls  of  approach- 
ing death  at  one  ear,  and  the  questionings  of  a  doubt- 
ful conscience  at  the  other ;  and  since  then  J  have 
found  that  this  method  of  God's  was  very  wise,  and 
no  other  was  so  likely  to  have  tended  to  my  good. 
These  bene.^ts  of  it  I  sensibly  perceived. 

"  1.  It  made  me  vile  and  loathsome  to  myself,  and 
made  pride  one  of  the  most  hateful  sins  in  the  world 
to  me.  I  thought  of  myself  as  I  now  think  of  a  detest 
able  sinner,  and  my  enemy:  that  is,  with  a  love  of  be- 
nevolence, wishing  them  well,  but  with  little  love  of 
complacency  at  all ;  and  the  long  continuance  of  it 
tended  the  more  effectually  to  a  habit. 

"2.  It  much  restrained  me  from  that  sportful  levity 
and  vanity  to  which  my  nature  and  youthfulness  much 
inclined  n»e,  and  caused  me  to  meet  temptatiiins  to  sen- 
suality with  the  greatest  fear,  and  made  them  less  ef- 
fectual against  me. 

"3.  It  made  the  doctrine  of  redemption  the  more 
savory  to  me,  and  my  thoughts  of  Christ  more  serious 
and  clear.  1  remember,  in  the  begitining,  how  benefi- 
cial lo  me  were  Mr.  Perkins'  short  treatise  of  the 
'Right  Knowledge  of  Christ  crucified,'  and  his  'Ex- 


16 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


position  of  the  Creed,'  because  they  taught  me  howlo 
live  by  faith  on  Christ. 

"  4.  It  made  the  world  seem  to  me  as  a  carcass  that 
had  neither  life  nor  loveliness,  and  it  destroyed  that  am- 
bitious desire  after  literary  fame  which  was  the  sin  of 
my  childhood.  I  had  a  desire  before  to  have  attained 
the  highest  academical  degrees  and  reputation  of  learn- 
ing, and  to  have  chosen  out  my  studies  accordingly  ; 
but  sickness,  and  solicitousness  for  my  doubting  soul, 
shamed  away  all  these  thoughts  as  fooleries  and  chil- 
dren's plays. 

"  5.  It  set  me  upon  that  method  of  my  studies,  of 
which,  since  then,  I  have  found  the  benefit,  though  at 
the  time  I  was  not  satisfied  with  myself.  It  caused  me 
first  to  seek  God's  kingdom  and  his  righteousness,  and 
most  to  mind  the  one  thing  needful ;  and  to  determine 
first  on  my  ultimate  end,  by  which  I  was  engaged  to 
choose  out  and  prosecute  all  other  studies  but  as  meant 
to  that  end.  Therefore  divinity  not  only  shared  with 
the  rest  of  my  studies,  but  always  had  the  first  and 
chief  place.  And  it  caused  me  to  study  a  practical  di- 
vinity first,  in  the  most  practical  books,  in  a  practical 
order ;  doing  all  purposely  for  the  informing  and  re- 
forming of  my  own  soul." 

"  And  as  for  those  doubts  of  my  own  salvation,  which 
exercised  me  many  years,  the  chief  causes  of  them 
were  these : 

"  1.  Because  I  could  not  distinctly  trace  the  work- 
ings of  the  Spirit  upon  my  heart,  in  that  method  which 
<  Mr.  Bolton,  Mr.  Hooker,  Mr.  Rogers,  and  other  di- 
vines describe;  nor  knew  the  time  of  my  conversion, 
being  wrought  on  by  the  foremenlioned  degrees.  But, 
since  then,  I  understood  that  the  soul  is  in  too  dark 
and  passionate  a  plight  at  first  to  be  able  to  keep  an 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


17 


exact  account  of  tlie  order  of  its  own  operations;  and 
that  preparatory  grace,  being  sometimes  longer  and 
sometimes  shorter,  and  the  first  degree  of  special  grace 
being  usually  very  small,  it  is  not  to  be  expected  that 
many  will  be  able  to  give  a  true  account  of  the  lime 
when  special  grace  began. 

"  2.  My  second  doubt  was  as  aforesaid,  because  of 
the  hardness  of  my  heart,  or  want  ofsuch  lively  appre- 
hensions of  things  spiritual  as  I  had  about  things  cor- 
poreal. And  though  I  still  groan  under  this  as  my 
sin  and  want,  yet  I  now  perceive  that  a  soul  in  flesh 
works  so  much  after  the  manner  of  the  flesh,  that  it 
much  desires  sensible  apprehensions;  but  things  spi- 
ritual and  distant  are  not  so  apt  to  excite  emotion  and 
stir  the  passions. 

"  3.  My  next  doubt  was  lest  education  and  fear  had 
done  all  that  ever  was  done  upon  my  soul,  and  regen- 
eration and  love  were  yet  to  be  sought ;  because  1  had 
found  conviction  from  my  childliood,  and  found  more 
fear  than  love  in  all  my  duties  and  restraints. 

"  But  I  afterwards  perceived  that  education  is  an  or- 
dinary way  for  the  conveyance  of  God's  grace,  and 
ought  no  more  to  be  set  in  opposition  to  the  Spirit,  than 
the  preaching  of  the  word;  and  that  it  was  the  great 
mercy  of  God  to  begin  with  me  so  soon,  and  to  prevent 
such  sins  as  else  might  have  been  my  shame  and  sor 
row  while  I  lived.  And  I  understood,  that,  thougli 
foar  without  love  be  not  a  state  of  saving  grace,  and 
greater  love  to  the  world  than  to  God  be  not  consistent 
with  sincerity,  yet  a  little  predominant  love,  prevail- 
ing against  worldly  love,  conjoined  with  a  far  greatei 
measure  of  fear,  may  be  a  state  of  special  grace.  And 
I  found  that  my  hearty  love  of  the  word  of  God»  and 
of  the  servants  of  God,  and  my  desires  to  be  more  ho- 


18 


LIFE   OF  BAXTBR. 


ly,  and  especially  the  hatred  of  my  heart  for  loving  God 
no  more,  and  my  wish  to  love  him,  and  be  pleasing  to 
him,  were  not  without  some  true  love  to  himself, 
though  it  appeared  more  sensibly  afterwards. 

"  4.  Another  of  my  doubts  was,  because  my  grief 
and  humiliation  were  no  greater,  and  because  I  could 
weep  no  more  for  this. 

"  But  I  understood,  at  last,  that  God  breaks  not  all 
men's  hearts  alike,  and  that  the  gradual  proceedings 
of  his  grace  might  be  one  cause,  and  my  nature,  not 
apt  to  weep  for  other  things,  another ;  and  that  the 
change  of  our  heart  from  sin  to  God  is  true  repent- 
ance ;(Snd  a  loathing  of  ourselves  is  true  humiliation; 
and  that  he  that  had  rather  leave  his  sin,  than  have 
leave  to  keep  it,  and  had  rather  be  the  most  holy,  than 
have  leave  to  be  unholy  or  less  holy,  is  neither  with- 
out true  repentance  nor  the  love  of  God. 

"  5.  Another  of  my  doubts  was,  because  I  had,  after 
my  change,  committed  some  sins  deliberately  and 
knowingly.  And,  be  they  ever  so  small,  I  thought,  he 
that  could  sin  upon  knowledge  and  deliberation,  had 
no  true  grace ;  and  that,  if  I  had  but  had  as  strong 
temptations  to  fornication,  drunkenness,  fraud,  or  other 
more  heinous  sins,  I  might  also  have  committed  them. 
And  if  these  proved  that  I  had  then  no  saving  grace, 
after  all  that  I  had  felt,  I  thought  it  unlikely  that  ever 
I  should  have  any." 

The  means  by  which  God  was  pleased  to  give  me 
some  peace  and  comfort  were — 

1.  The  reading  of  many  consolatory  books. 

"  2.  The  observation  of  the  condition  of  other  men. 
When  I  heard  many  make  the  very  same  complaints 
that.  I  did,  who  were  people  of  whom  I  had  the  best 
esteem  for  the  uprightness  and  holiness  of  ibeir  lives. 


LIVE   OF  BAXTER. 


19 


it  much  abated  my  fears  and  troubles.  And,  in  par- 
ticular, it  much  comforted  me  to  read  him  whom  1 
loved  as  one  of  the  holiest  of  all  the  martyrs,  John 
Bradford,  subscribing  himself  so  often,  '  The  hard- 
hearted sinner,'  and  '  The  miserable  hard-hearted  sin- 
ner,' even  as  I  was  used  to  do  myself. 

"3.  And  it  much  increased  my  peace,  when  God's 
providence  called  me  to  the  comfortinj^of  many  others 
that  had  the  same  complaints.  While  I  answered  their 
doubts,  I  answered  my  own  ;  and  the  charity  which  I 
was  constrained  to  exercise  for  them,  redounded  to 
myself,  and  insensibly  abated  my  fears,  and  procured 
me  an  increase  of  quietness  of  mind. 

And  yet,  after  ail,  I  was  glad  of  probabilities  in- 
stead of  full  undoubted  certainties:  and  to  this  very 
day,  though  I  have  no  such  degree  of  doubtfulness  as 
is  any  great  trouble  to  my  soul,  or  procures  any  great 
disquieting  fears,  yet  I  cannot  say  that  I  have  such  a 
certainty  of  my  own  sincerity  in  grace,  as  excludes  all 
doubts  and  fears  of  the  contrary." 

Baxter's  old  preceptor  induced  him  for  a  season  to 
lay  aside  all  thoughts  of  the  ministry,  and  to  become 
an  attendant  at  court.  He  resided  for  a  month  at 
Whitehall,  but  became  so  disgusted  with  the  scenes 
and  practices  of  high  life,  that  his  conscience  would 
not  allow  his  longer  continuance  from  home.  He  says: 
"  I  had,  quickly,  enough  of  the  court ;  when  I  saw  a 
stage-play,  instead  of  a  sermon,  on  the  Lord's  day  in 
the  afternoon,  and  saw  what  course  was  there  in  fash- 
ion, and  heard  little  preaching  but  M'hat  was,  in  some 
part,  against  the  puritans,  I  was  glad  to  be  gone.  At 
the  same  time,  it  pleased  God,  my  mother  fell  sick,  and 
desired  my  return  ;  and  so  I  resolved  to  bid  farewell 
to  those  kinds  of  employments  and  expectations." 


20 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


When  1:8  was  going  home  into  the  country,  about 
Christmas  day,  A.  D.  1G34,  he  relates  that,  on  meeting 
a  loaded  wagon,  his  horse  fell  on  the  side  of  a  bank, 
by  which  lie  was  ilirowu  before  the  wheel,  which  he 
says  "  had  gone  over  me,  but  that,  as  it  pleased  God, 
the  horses  suddenly  stopped,  without  any  discernable 
cause,  till  I  was  recovered  ;  which  commanded  me  to 
observe  the  mercy  of  my  Protector." 

On  his  rtlurn  he  found  his  mother  extremely  ill. 
She  lingered  till  May,  and  tlien  expired. 

Baxter's  own  health  was  in  a  very  precarious  stale; 
but  he  was  anxiously  desirous  of  doing  good  during 
the  short  time  which  he  supposed  would  be  allotted  to 
him  on  earth.  He  states  : 

"  My  own  soul  benig  under  serious  apprehensions 
of  another  world.  I  was  exceedingly  desirous  to  com- 
municate those  apprehensions  to  ignorant,  presump- 
tuous, careless  sinners.  But  I  was  in  a  very  great  per- 
plexity between  my  encouragements  and  my  disco'i- 
rageraents.  I  was  conscious  of  my  personal  insuffi- 
ciency, lor  want  of  that  measure  of  learning  and  expe- 
rience which  so  great  and  high  a  work  required.  I 
hnew  that  the  want  of  academical  lionors  and  degree.^ 
\7as  likely  to  make  me  ('onlemptil)le  with  the  most,  and 
conseqtiently  hinder  the  success  of  my  endeavors. 
But  yet,  expecting  to  be  so  quickly  in  another  world,  the 
great  concerns  of  miserable  souls  prevailed  with  me 
against  all  these  impediments;  and  being  conscious  of 
a  thirsty  desire  of  men's  conversion  and  salvation,  and 
of  some  competent  persuading  faculty  of  expression 
•vhlch  fervent  affections  miglit  help  to  actuate,  I  re- 
olved,  that  if  one  or  two  souls  only  might  be  won  to 
O-jd,  it  wonM  recompense  all  the  dishonor  I  might  re- 
ceive from  men  I*' 


LIFE  OF  BAXTER. 


21 


CHAPTER  11. 

HI3  ORDINATION,  AND  FIRST  PUBLIC  ENGAGEMENTS. 

Baxter  was  induced,  by  the  advice  of  his  friend 
Berry,  to  accept  the  head  mastership  of  a  newly  en- 
dowed grammar  school  at  Dudley,  Worcestershire. 
He  was  the  more  ready  to  accept  this  situation,  as  it 
would  afford  him  an  opportunity  of  preaching  in  that 
unenlightened  neighborhood.  He  applied  for  ordina- 
tion to  the  Bishop  of  Winchester,  which,  after  exami- 
nation and  subscription,  was  duly  administered.  He, 
moreover,  received  the  bishop's  license  to  teach  in  tlie 
school  at  Dudley.  In  a  subsequent  period  of  his  life, 
he  dedicated  his  treatise  on  "  Self  denial"  to  his  friend 
Colonel  Berry,  whose  character  had  undergone  a  con- 
siderable change.  The  following  passage  from  his 
dedicatory  letter  describes  his  views  and  feelings  oil 
entering  the  ministry,  and  his  obligation  to  his  friend 
and  adviser.  "You  brought  me  into  the  ministry.  I 
am  confident  you  know  to  what  ends,  and  with  what 
intentions  I  desired  it.  I  was  then  very  ignorant, 
young,  and  raw.  Though  my  weakness  be  yet  such  as 
I  must  lament,  I  must  say,  to  tlie  praise  of  the  great 
Shepherd  of  the  flock,  that  he  hath,  since  then,  ofTord 
me  precious  opportunities,  much  assistance,  and  as 
much  encouragement  as  to  any  man  that  I  know  alive. 
You  know  my  education  and  initial  weakness  were 
such  as  forbid  me  to  glory  in  the  flesh  ;  but  I  will  not 
rob  God  of  his  glory  to  avoid  the  appearance  of  osten- 
tation, lest  I  be  proud  of  seeming  not  to  be  proud. 
I  doubt  not  but  many  thousand  souls  will  thank  you, 


22 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


when  they  have  read  that  you  were  the  man  that  led 
me  into  the  niinisiry."' 

"  Being  settled  in  the  new  school  at  Dudley,  I  there 
preached  my  first  public  sermon  in  tlie  upper  parish 
church,  and  afterwards  preached  in  the  villaires  about ; 
and  there  had  occasion  to  enter  afresh  upon  the  study 
of  Coii/ornUi'u  for  there  were  many  private  Christians 
thereabouts  that  were  non-conformists,  and  one  in  the 
house  with  me.  And  that  excellent  man,  Mr.  William 
Fenner,  had  lately  lived  two  miles  off,  at  Sedgley,  who, 
by  defending  conformity,  and  honoring  it  by  a  won- 
derfully powerful  and  successful  way  of  preaching, 
conference,  and  holy  living,  had  stirred  up  the  non- 
conformists the  m-ire  to  a  vehement  pleading  of  their 
cause.  And  though  they  were  there  generally  godly 
honest  people,  yet  they  were  smartly  censorious,  and 
made  conformity  no  small  fault.  And  they  lent  me 
manuscripts  and  books  which  I  never  saw  before  ; 
whereupon  I  thought  it  my  duty  to  set  upon  a  serious 
impartial  trial  of  the  v.  hole  cause. 

''In  the  town  of  Dudley  I  lived  in  much  comfort, 
amongst  a  poor  tractable  people,  lateh'  noted  for  drun- 
kenness, but  commonly  more  ready  to  hear  God's  word 
with  submission  and  reformation  than  most  places 
where  I  have  been,  so  that  having,  since  the  wars,  set 
up  a  monthly  Ipcture  there,  the  church  v/as  usually 
fts  much  crowded  witliin,  and  at  the  windows,  as  ever 
I  saw  any  London  congregation  ;  partly  through  the 
great  willingness  of  the  people,  and  partly  by  the  ex- 
ceeding populousness  of  the  country,  where  the  woods 
and  commons  are  planted  with  narlers,  scythe-smiths, 
and  other  iron  laborers,  like  a  continued  village. 


•  To  the  eaactmenls  of  tbe  established  cUurcU. 


LIFE  OF  BAXTER. 


23 


"  When  I  had  been  but  three  quarters  of  a  year  at 
Dudley,  I  was,  by  God':?  very  gracious  providence, 
invited  to  Bridgnorth,  the  second  town  of  Siiropshire,  to 
preach  there,  as  assistant  to  the  worthy  pastor  of  that 
place.  As  soon  as  I  heard  tlie  place  described,  I  judged 
it  was  the  fittest  for  me;  for  there  was  just  such  em- 
ployment as  I  desired  and  could  submit  to  without  vi- 
olating conscience,  and  some  probability  of  peace  and 
quietness. 

"  But  the  people  proved  a  very  ignorant,  dead-heart- 
ed people,  the  town  consisting  tcKj  much  of  inns  and 
ale-houses,  and  having  no  general  trade  to  employ  the 
inhabitants,  which  is  the  undoing  of  many  large  towns. 
So  that  though,  through  the  greatniercyof  God.my  first 
labors  were  not  without  success  in  the  conversion  of 
some  ignorant  and  careless  sinners  to  him,  and  were 
over-valued  by  those  that  were  already  regardful  of 
the  concerns  of  their  souls,  yet  they  were  not  so  suc- 
cessful as  they  proved  afterv.'ards  in  other  places. 
Though  I  was  in  the  fervor  of  my  affections,  and  ne- 
ver any  where  preached  with  more  vehement  desires 
of  men's  conversion,  yet,  with  the  generality,  applause 
of  the  preacher  was  most  of  the  success  of  the  sermon 
Which  I  could  hear  of;  and  their  tippling,  and  iil-com- 
pany,  and  dead-heartedness  quickly  drowned  all." 

Though  a  friend  to  episcopacy,  yet  the  omission  of 
some  required  ceremonies,  together  with  his  refusal  to 
take  the  "  et  cetera"  oath,  (binding  him  never  to  give 
his  consent  toalter  the  government  of  the  church  in  par- 
ticulars not  distinctly  defined,)  had  nearly  occasioned 
his  expulsion  from  the  ministry,  and  the  loss  of  his 
liberty,  if  not,  in  his  weak  and  infirm  state  of  health, 
of  life  itself.  Indeed,  some  of  his  accusers  threatened 
hrm  with  "  hanging"  if  he  did  not  comply.  God,  how- 


24 


LIFE   OF  BAXTErw. 


ever,  in  whose  hands  are  the  hearts  of  all  men,  changed 
the  purposes  and  restrained  the  malice  of  his  adver- 
saries. He  continued  to  preach  at  Bridgnorth  a  year 
and  three-quarters,  in  the  uninterrupted  enjoyment  of 
liberty,  which,  says  he,  "  I  took  to  be  a  very  great  mer- 
cy to  me  iu  these  troublesome  times," 

He  says,  Tlie  long  parliament,  among  other  parta 
of  their  reformation,  resolved  to  reform  the  corrupted 
clergy,  and  appointed  a  committee  to  receive  petitions 
and  complaints  against  them  ;  which  was  ho  sooner 
understood,  but  multitudes  in  all  countries  came  up 
with  petitions  against  their  mmisters.-' 

"  Among  all  these  complainers,  the  town  of  Kidder- 
minister,  in  Worcestershire,  drew  up  a  petition  against 
their  minister.  The  vicar  of  the  place  they  represented 
as  utterly  insufficient  for  the  ministry  ;  presented  by  a 
papist;  unlearned;  preaching  but  once  a  quarter,  and 
that  so  feebly  as  exposed  him  to  laughter,  and  showed 
that  he  understood  not  the  essential  articles  of  Chris- 
tianity; as  one  thai  frequented  ale  houses  ;  had  some- 
times been  drunk,  &c. 

"  The  vicar,  knowing  his  insufficiency,  and  hearing 
how  two  others  in  this  case  had  fared,  desired  to  com- 
pound the  business  with  them,  which  was  soon  accom- 
plished. Hereupon  they  invited  me  to  them  from 
Bridgnorth.  The  bailiff  of  the  town,  and  all  the  feof- 
fees, desired  me  to  preach  with  them,  in  order  to  a  full 
determination.  My  mind  was  much  to  the  place,  as 
soon  as  it  was  described  to  me,  because  it  was  a  full 
congregation,  with  a  most  convenient  temple;  they 
were  an  ignorant,  rude,  and  revelling  people  for  the 
most  part,  who  had  need  of  preaching;  and  yet  had 
among  ihern  a  small  crnnpany  of  converts,  humble^ 
godly,  and  of  good  conversation,  and  not  much  hated 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


2a 


by  the  rest,  and  therefore  the  fitter  to  assist  tneir  teach 
er:  but  above  all,  because  they  had  hardly  ever  had 
any  lively,  serious  preaching  among  them.  For  Bridg- 
north had  made  me  resolve  that  I  would  never  more 
go  among  a  people  that  had  been  liardened  in  unpro- 
fitableness under  an  awakening  ministry ;  but  either  to 
such  as  never  liad  any  convincing  preacher,  or  to  such 
as  had  profited  by  him.  As  soon  as  I  came  to  Kidder- 
minster, and  had  preached  there  one  day,  I  was  cho- 
sen, without  opposition  ;  for  though  fourteen  only  had 
the  power  of  choosing,  they  desired  to  please  the  rest. 
And  thus  I  was  brought,  by  the  gracious  providence 
of  God,  to  that  place  which  had  the  chief  of  my  labors, 
and  yielded  me  the  greatest  fruits.  And  I  noted  the 
mercy  of  God  in  this,  that  I  never  went  to  any  place  in 
my  life,  among  all  my  changes,  which  I  had  before 
designed,  or  thought  of,  much  less  sought,  but  only 
lo  those  that  I  never  thought  of,  till  the  sudden  invita- 
tion surprised  me." 


CHAPTERIII. 

HIS  LABORS,  TRIALS,  AND  SUCCESS  AT  KIDDCRMINSTER. 

To  this  importarPE  and  interesting  scene  of  labor 
Baxter  was  invited  on  the  9th  of  March,  1640.  His  le- 
gal appointment,  afteriaboring  among  the  people  dur- 
in;r  the  interval,  is  dated  April  5,  1641. 

For  this  station  of  public  and  extensive  Usefulness, 
lie  had  been  prepared  by  various  painful  and  alarming 
aiflictions.  He  says:  "All  this  forertieutloned  timeof 


26' 


LIFE  OF  CJLXTEK. 


myi 

Dcnea,  wiiicii  woeao-^reatas  anda  ok  Irre  wmA\ 
m  coBtiaval  ezpedatioB  of  deaifa,  aupiwwiag  aufl  tkas 
I  had  Boi  long  to  live  And  tkb  I  feanl,  liiraagh  aU 
m  J  iilie,  to  be  an  w^MaMc  menry  to  me :  iisr  

1.  UgieatljwSeMd  laiwptalMiaa 
ItkeptflKmemftcMbBBiitofftlievorid. 

3.  U  tan^ht  mmr  UsUt  to  eatocm  t»e ;  ao  Ikal,  if 
any  of  it  passed  away  la  jdlearaa  or  aapiaiii 

I  wmsL  say,  tollie  praiae of  my 
lint  titoe  kas  atiU  aeeawd  to  aae 
than  goU,  or  aay  caitUy  gan, 
not  ben  diniiwd,  mar  faave  I 
any  of  the  aioa  vUdi  go  onder  the  ■atoeoff 


«4.It 
aadafiitie 

iBftocn. 

^Tbeaej  with  the  rest  whidi  I 
when  I  apakeof  ray  infinnilieit  weie  the  I 
GodaflbidBdraohy  il  flnii  I  hnnddy  bleat  his  gia- 

tranedrae  spin Iheathoolof  af- 
rae  the  craaa  of  Chrat  j 
I  ai^be  laOer,  aa  Lntherspc 

Hia  ipiritnl  oonflki^to^m 
ractei^  and  tended,  evanMlty,  by  the  gnee  of  God, 
loqnfifyhim  tobe  an  inattnetor  af  iHhf  n,  both  as  a 
writer.  Qe  says: 
-Atone  tioK.  above  aUthe 

a 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


27 


present  expectation  of  my  change,  and  going  for  com- 
fort to  the  promises,  as  I  was  used,  the  tempter  strong- 
ly assaulted  my  faith,  and  would  have  drawn  me  to- 
wards infidelity  itself.  Till  I  was  ready  to  enter  into 
the  ministry,  all  my  troubles  had  been  raised  by  the 
hardness  of  my  heart  and  the  doublings  of  my  own 
sincerity ;  but  now  all  these  began  to  vanish,  and  never 
much  returned  to  this  day.  And,  instead  of  these,  I 
was  now  assaulted  with  more  pernicious  temptations; 
especially  to  question  the  certain  truth  of  the  sacred 
Scriptures ;  and  also  the  life  to  come,  and  the  immor- 
tality of  the  soul.  And  these  temptations  assaulted  me, 
not  as  they  do  the  melancholy,  with  horrid  vexing  im- 
portunity ;  but,  by  pretence  of  sober  reason,  they  would 
have  drawn  me  to  a  settled  doubting  of  Christianity. 

"  And  here  I  found  my  own  miscarriage  and  the 
great  mercy  of  God.  My  miscarriage,  in  that  I  had  so 
long  neglected  the  well  settlmg  of  the  foundations  oa 
which  I  rested,  while  1  had  bestowed  so  much  time 
in  the  superstructure  and  the  applicalory  part.  For, 
not  daring  to  question  the  truth  of  the  Scriptures  and 
ihe  life  to  come,  1  had  either  taken  it  for  a  certainty 
upon  trust,  or  taken  up  with  common  reasons  of  it, 
which  I  had  never  well  considered,  digested,  or  made 
my  own  ;  insomuch,  that  when  this  temptation  came, 
it  seemed  at  first  to  answer  and  enervate  all  the  for- 
mer reasons  of  my  feeble  faith,  whicii  made  me  take 
the  Scriptures  for  the  word  of  God  ;  and  it  set  before  me 
such  mountains  of  difficulty  in  the  incarnation,  the 
person  of  Christ,  his  undertaking  and  performance, 
with  the  scripture  chronology,  histories,  style,  &c.  as 
had  overwhelmed  me,  if  God  had  not  been  my  strength. 
And  here  I  saw  much  of  the  mercy  of  God,  that  he  let 
not  out  these  terrible  and  dangerous  temptations  upon 


28 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


me  while  I  was  weak  and  in  the  infancy  of  my  faith ; 
for  then  I  had  never  been  able  to  withstand  them.  But 
faith  is  like  a  tree  whose  top  is  small  while  the  root  is 
young  and  shallow;  and  therefore,  as  then  it  has  but 
small  rooting,  so  it  is  not  liable  to  the  shaking  winds 
and  tempests  as  the  large  and  high-grown  trees  are;  but, 
as  the  top  rises  higher,  so  the  root  at  once  grows 
greater  and  deeper  fixed,  to  cause  it  to  endure  its 
greater  assaults. 

"Though  formerly  I  was  wont,  when  any  such 
temptation  came,  to  cast  it  aside,  as  fitter  to  be  abhor- 
red than  considered,  yet  now  this  would  not  give  me 
satisfaction;  but  I  was  disposed  to  dig  to  the  very 
foundations,  and  seriously  to  examine  the  reasons  of 
Christianity,  and  to  give  a  hearing  to  all  that  could  be 
said  against  it,  that  so  my  faith  might  be  indeed  my 
own.  And  at  last  I  found  that  '  Nothing  is  so  firmly 
believed  as  that  which  has  been  some  time  doubted.' 

"  In  the  storm  of  this  temptation,  I  questioned  awhile 
whether  I  were  indeed  a  Christian  or  an  infidel,  and 
v/hether  faith  could  consist  with  such  doubts  as  I  was 
conscious  of.  For  I  had  read,  in  the  works  of  papists 
and  protestants,  that  faith  had  certainty,  and  was  more 
than  an  opinion  ;  and  that,  if  a  man  should  live  a  god- 
ly life,  from  the  bare  apprehensions  of  tlie  probability 
of  the  truth  of  Scripture  and  the  life  to  come,  it  would 
\  not  save  him,  as  being  no  true  godliness  or  faith.  But 
my  judgment  closed  with  the  reason  of  Dr.  Jackson's 
determination  of  this  case,  which  supported  me  much  ; 
that  as  in  the  very  assenting  act  of  faith  there  may  be 
such  weakness  as  may  make  us  cry—'  Lord,  increase 
our  faith:  we  believe;  Lord,  help  our  belief;'  so, 
when  faith  and  unbelief  are  in  their  conflict,  it  is  the 
effects  which  must  show  us  which  of  them  is  victo- 


LIFE    OF  BAXTER. 


29 


rious.  And  that  he  that  has  so  much  faith  as  will  cause 
him  to  deny  himself,  take  up  his  cross,  and  forsake  all 
the  profits,  honors,  and  pleasures  of  this  world,  for 
the  sake  of  Christ,  the  love  of  God,  and  the  hope  of 
glory,  has  a  saving  faith,  how  weak  soever.  For  God 
cannot  condemn  the  soul  tliat  truly  loves  and  seeks 
him  ;  and  those  that  Christ  brings  to  persevere  in  the 
love  of  God,  he  brings  to  salvation.  And  there  were 
divers  things  that,  in  this  assault,  proved  great  assist- 
ances to  my  faith." 

"From  this  assault  I  was  forced  to  take  notice  that 
our  belief  of  the  truth  of  the  word  of  God,  and  the  life 
to  come,  is  the  spring  of  all  grace;  and  with  which  it 
rises  or  falls,  flourislies  or  decays,  is  actuated  or  stands 
still:  and  that  there  is  more  of  this  secret  unbelief  at 
the  root  than  most  of  us  are  aware  of;  and  that  our 
love  of  the  world,  our  boldness  in  sin,  our  neglect  of 
duty,  are  caused  hence.  I  observed  easily  in  myself, 
that  if  at  any  time  Satan,  more  than  at  other  times, 
weakened  my  belief  of  Scripture  and  the  life  to  come, 
my  zeal  in  every  religious  duty  abated  with  it,  and  I 
grew  more  indifferent  in  religion  than  before.  1  was 
more  inclined  to  conformity  in  those  points  which  I 
had  taken  to  be  sinful,  and  was  ready  to  think.  Why 
should  I  be  singular,  and  offend  the  bishops  and  other 
superiors,  and  make  myself  contemptible  in  the  world, 
and  expose  myself  to  censures,  scorns  and  sufferings, 
and  all  for  such  little  things  as  these,  when  the  foun- 
dations themselves  have  such  great  difficulties  as  I  am 
unable  to  overcome?  But  when  faith  revived,  then 
none  of  tlie  parts  or  concerns  of  religion  seemed  small ; 
and  then  man  seemed  nothing,  and  the  world  a  shadow, 
and  God  was  all. 

"In  the  beginning,  I  doubted  not  of  the  truth  of  the  1 

L.  B.  ^*  ' 


30 


LIIE   OF  BAXTER. 


Holy  Scriptures,  or  of  the  life  to  c(Aiie,  because  I  saw 
not  the  difficulties  which  might  cause  doubting.  After 
that,  I  saw  tiiein,  and  I  doubted,  because  I  saw  not 
that  which  siioiild  satisfy  tiie  miiid  against  them. 
Since  tiiat,  having  segji  both  dijficuiiies  and  evidences^ 
though  I  am  not  so  unmolested  as  at  the  first,  yet  is 
n^y  faith,  I  hope,  much  stronger,  and  far  better  able 
to  repel  the  temptations  of  Satan,  and  the  sophisms  of 
infidels,  than  before.  ^But  yet  it  is  my  daily  prayer  that 
God  would  increase  my  faith,  and  give  my  soul  a  clear 
sight  of  the  evidences  of  his  truth,  and  of  himself,  and 
of  the  invisible  world.*'  ) 

Nor  was  Baxter  exempt  from  slander:  his  moral 
character  was  assailed  by  base  and  unfounded  calum- 
nies. These  he  was  enabled  successfully  to  refute.  His 
chief  calumniator  was  obliged  to  confess  that  the 
charges  were  fabrications,  and  to  beg  his  forgiveness^ 
which  was  freely  given. 

The  trials  of  ministers  are  frequent!)-  of  a  painful 
character,  but,  like  those  of  private  Christians,  they 
work  together  for  good.*'  They  are  over-ruled,  not 
only  for  their  personal  benefit,  but  for  the  edification 
of  their  fiOcks.  "  If  their  sufferings  abound,  so  do  their 
consolations  also,-'  and  that  in  order  to  their  being  the 
comforters  of  others.  2  Cor.  1  :  1-5. 

Baxter  entered  on  his  work  with  spirit  and  zeal ;  nor 
was  he  suffered  to  labor  long  without  witnessing  bless- 
ed results  in  the  conversion  of  sinners  to  God.  At  first 
he  used  to  register  the  names,  characters,  »S:c.  of  his 
converts ;  but  they  became,  at  length,  so  numerous,  that 
he  discontinued  the  practice. 

He  continued  successfully  discharging  his  ministe- 
rial and  pastoral  labors  for  nearly  two  years,  when  the 
civil  wars  (growinsr  out  of  a  run«ure  bct«'f*rn  Ih'- .V'.r.C 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


31 


and  his  parliament)  threw  the  whole  country  into  con- 
fusion. His  situation,  though  he  was  no  partizan,  was 
critical  and  dangerous.  He  was  at  length  advised  by 
his  friends  to  retire  from  Kiddermmster  till  public  af- 
fairs should  assume  a  more  peaceable  aspect.  The  im- 
mediate occasion  of  his  leaving,  he  thus  describes  : 

"  About  that  time  the  parliament  sent  down  an  or- 
der for  the  demolishing  of  all  statues  and  images  of 
any  of  the  three  persons  in  the  blessed  Trinity,  or  of 
the  virgin  Mary,  which  should  be  found  in  churches, 
or  on  the  crosses  in  churchyards.  My  judgment  was 
for  the  obeying  of  this  order,  thinking  it  came  from 
just  authority;  but  I  meddled  not  in  it,  but  left  the 
churchwarden  to  do  what  he  thought  good.  The 
churchwarden,  an  lionest,  sober,  quiet  man,  seeing  a 
crucifix  upon  the  cross  in  the  churchyard,  set  up  a 
ladder  to  have  reached  it,  but  it  proved  too  short: 
whilst  he  was  gone  to  seek  another,  a  crew  of  the 
drunken  riotous  party  of  the  town,  poor  journeymen 
and  servants,  took  the  alarm,  and  ran  together  with 
■weapons  to  defend  the  crucifix  and  the  church  images, 
of  which  there  were  many  remaining  since  the  time  of 
popery.  The  report  v.'as  among  them  that  I  was  the  ac- 
tor, and  it  was  me  they  sought;  but  I  was  walking  al- 
most a  mile  out  of  town,  or  else,  I  suppose,  I  had  there 
ended  my  days.  When  they  missed  me  and  the  church- 
warden both,  they  went  raving  about  the  streets  to  seek 
us.  Two  neighbors  that  dwelt  in  other  parishes,  hearing 
that  they  sought  my  life,  ran  in  among  them  to  see 
whether  I  were  there,  and  they  knocked  them  both 
down  in  the  streets;  and  both  of  them  are  since  dead,  i 
and,  I  think,  never  perfectly  recovered  of  the  wounds 
then  re(;eived.  When  they  had  foamed  about  half  an 
hour,  and  met  with  none  of  u.,  I  came  in  fron'  mv 


32 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


walk,  and  hearing  the  people  cursing  at  me  in  their 
doors,  I  wondered  what  the  matter  was,  but  quickly 
found  how  fairly  I  had  escaped.  The  next  Lord's  day 
I  dealt  plainly  with  them,  and  laid  open  to  them  the 
quality  of  that  action,  and  told  them,  seeing  they  so 
requited  me  as  to  seek  my  blood,  I  was  willing  to 
leave  them,  and  save  them  from  that  guilt.  But  the 
poor  sots  were  so  amazed  and  ashamed  that  tiiey  took 
on  sorrily,  and  were  reluctant  to  part  with  me. 

"About  this  time  the  king's  declarations  were  read 
in  our  market-place,  and  the  Reader,  a  violent  country 
gentleman,  seeing  me  pass  the  streets,  slopped,  and 
said,  '  There  goes  a  traitor,'  without  ever  givmg  a  syl- 
lable of  reason  for  it. 

And  the  commission  of  array  was  set  afoot,  for 
the  parliament  meddled  not  with  the  militia  of  that 
county.  Lord  Howard,  their  lieutenant,  not  appearing. 
Then  the  rage  of  the  rioters  grew  greater  than  before.  • 
And  in  preparation  for  the  war,  they  had  got  tli«  word 
among  them — 'Down  with  the  roundheads;'  insomuch 
that  if  a  stranger  passed  in  many  places,  that  had  short 
hair  and  a  civil  habit,  the  rabble  presently  cried, '  Down 
with  the  roundheads;'  and  some  they  knocked  down 
in  the  open  streets. 

"  In  this  fury  of  the  rabble  I  was  advised  to  with- 
draw awhile  from  home;  whereupon  I  went  to  Glou- 
cester. As  I  passed  but  through  a  corner  of  the  sub- 
urbs of  Worcester,  they  that  knew  me  not  cried, '  Down 
with  the  roundheads;'  and  I  was  glad  to  spur  on  and 
begone.  But  when  I  came  to  Gloucester,  among  stran- 
gers also  that  had  never  known  me,  I  found  a  civil, 
courteous,  and  religious  people,  as  different  from  Wor- 
cester as  if  they  had  lived  under  another  government." 

"  When  1  had  been  at  Gloucester  a  month,  my  neigh- 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


33 


bors  of  Kidderminster  came  for  me  home,  and  told  me 
that  if  I  stayed  any  longer  the  people  Avonld  interpret 
it  either  that  I  was  afraid,  upon  some  guilt,  or  that  I 
Avas  against  the  king;  so  I  bid  my  host,  Mr.  Darney, 
the  town-clerk,  and  my  friends,  farewell*  and  never 
went  to  Gloucester  more. 

"  For  myself,  I  knew  not  what  course  to  take.  To 
live  at  home  I  was  uneasy;  but  especially  now,  when 
soldiers,  on  one  side  or  other,  would  be  frequently 
among  us,  and  we  must  be  still  at  the  mercy  of  every 
furious  beast  that  would  make  a  prey  of  us.  I  had 
neither  money  nor  friends.  I  knew  not  who  would 
receive  me  in  any  place  of  safety  ;  nor  had  I  any  thing 
to  satisfy  them  for  my  diet  and  entertainment.  Here- 
upon I  was  persuaded,  by  one  that  was  with  me,  to  go 
to  Coventry,  where  one  of  my  old  acquaintance  was 
minister,  Mr.  Simon  King,  some  time  schoolmaster  at 
Bridgnorth.  So  thither  I  went,  with  a  purpose  to  stay 
there  till  one  side  or  other  had  got  the  victory,  and 
the  war  was  ended,  and  then  to  return  home. 

"Whilst  I  was  thinking  what  course  to  take,  the 
committee  and  governor  of  the  city  desired  me  that  I 
would  stay  with  them,  and  lodge  in  the  governor's 
house,  and  preach  to  the  soldiers.  The  otfer  suited 
well  with  my  necessities,  but  I  resolved  that  I  would 
not  be  chaplain  to  the  regiment,  nor  take  a  commis- 
sion ;  but,  if  the  mere  preaching  of  a  sermon  once  or 
twice  a  week  to  the  garrison  would  satisfy  them,  I 
would  accept  of  the  offer,  till  I  could  go  home  again. 
Here  I  lived  in  the  governor's  house,  and  followed  my 
studies  as  quietly  as  in  a  time  of  peace,  for  about  a 
year,  only  preaching  once  a  week  to  the  soldiers,  and 
once  on  the  Lord's  day  to  the  people,  not  taking  from 
any  of  them  a  penny  for  either,  save  my  diet  only." 


34 


LIFE  OF  BAXTER. 


The  war  conliniied  with  unabated  fury  aiid  severity. 
During  his  slay  at  Coventry  lie  was  invited  by  Crom- 
well to  become  chaplain  to  his  troops  which  lay  at 
Cambridge.  This  invitation  he  declined  ;  but  some  time 
after,  on  learning  the  stale  of  the  army  and  the  pros- 
pects of  usefulness  among  the  soldiers,  at  the  solicita- 
tion of  Captain  Evanson,  he  became  chaplain  to  Colo- 
nel Whalley's  regiment,  and  left  his  quarters  at  Coven- 
Irj',  to  the  deep  and  universal  regret  of  the  residents  in 
the  garrison. 

On  joming  his  regiment  he  writes: 

"I  set  myself,  from  day  to  day,  to  find  out  the  cor- 
ruptions of  the  soldiers,  and  to  adapt  my  discourses 
and  conversation  to  their  mistakes,  both  religious  and 
political.  My  life  among  them  was  a  daily  contending 
against  seducers,  and  gently  arguing  with  the  more 
tractable." 

His  "efforts  to  do  good"  were  unremitting.  His 
time  was  occupied  '*  in  preaching,  conference,  and  dis- 
puting against  confounding  errors."  and  in  directing 
and  comforting  believers  under  the  difficulties  and  pe- 
rils of  the  times.  His  success,  however,  did  not  equal 
his  expectations:  party  spirit  ran  exceedingly  high ; 
the  soldiers  were  divided  in  their  religious  opinions; 
the  camp  afforded  but  few  facilities  for  collecting  any 
considerable  numbers  together,  and  besides,  was  con- 
stantly changing  its  position,  according  to  the  dirrc- 
tion  of  war.  And  probably  his  desire  to  reconcile  their 
religious  differences,  and  to  unite  them  under  one  re- 
ligious  discipline,  led  him  more  frequently  to  dispute 
than  to  preach,  to  dwell  more  on  the  details  and  niinu- 
tiap  of  the  Gospel  than  on  its  essential  truths:  to  labor 
as  though  they  were  at  peace  and  had  time  fur  punc- 
tilios, rather  than  as  being  in  a  state  of  war,  and  in 


LIFE  OF  BAXTER. 


35 


danger  every  hour  of  being  hurried  into  eternity. 
These,  with  other  untoward  circumstances,  contribu- 
ted to  diminish  the  probability  of  success,  but  at  the 
same  time  to  illustrate  the  zeal,  the  piety,  and  the  per- 
severance of  the  conscientious  chaplain.  He  was  never 
in  any  engagement,  nor  took  part,  personally,  in  any 
contests,  though  present  at  some  sieges. 

After  the  fatal  battle  of  Worcester,  with  health  en- 
feebled by  his  excessive  exertions  in  the  army,  he  vi- 
sited his  old  flock  at  Kidderminster,  and  thence  pro- 
ceeded to  London  for  medical  advice.  His  physician 
directed  him  to  visit  Tunbridge  Weils,  and  try  the 
efficacy  of  its  waters.  With  this  advice  he  complied. 
His  health  was  in  consequence  improved,  and  in  due 
time  he  returned  to  his  quarters  in  Worcestershire, 
where  the  army  s*ill  lay. 

In  all  his  peregrinations  with  the  army  and  other- 
wise, he  preached  in  most  of  the  churches  in  the  towns 
through  which  he  passed ;  and  no  doubt  can  be  enter- 
tained that  his  earnest,  affectionate,  and  faithful  preach- 
ing was  attended  with  important  results. 

While  staying  at  the  house  of  Sir  John  Cook,  Mel- 
borne,  Derbyshire,  he  was  seized  with  a  violent  bleed- 
ing at  the  nose,  whicli  so  reduced  his  slrengtli  that 
his  case  was  considered  almost  hopeless.  His  counte- 
nance was  so  altered  as  scarcely  to  be  recognized  by 
his  most  intimate  friends.  As  soon  as  he  could  re- 
move, he  visited  a  friend  in  Leicestershire,  where  he 
remained  three  weeks  in  an  exhausted  state.  In  this 
state  he  was  invited  by  his  friends  Sir  Thomas  and  Lady 
Rous  to  take  lodgings  at  their  mansion.  Thither  he 
was  conveyed,  and  experienced  the  greatest  kindness 
and  attention.  At  the  end  of  three  months,  having  re- 
covered his  strength,  he  returned  to  Kiddermin?ter. 


3(5 


LIFE  OF  BAXTER. 


During  this  period  of  sickness  and  retirement  from 
public  labors;  he  was  luixious  to  be  useful,  and  to  be 
restored,  if  agreeable  to  the  Divine  will,  that  his  use- 
fulness might  be  increased.  He  states  concerning 
Ijimself,  "Being  conscious  that  my  time  had  not  been 
improved  to  the  service  of  God  as  I  wished  it  had  been, 
I  put  up  man}'-  an  earnest  prayer  to  God  that  he  would 
restore  me,  and  use  me  more  successfully  in  his  work. 
And,  blessed  be  that  mercy  which  heard  my  groans  in 
the  day  of  my  distress,  and  granted  my  desires,  and 
Avrought  my  deliverance,  when  men  and  means  fail' 
ed,  and  gave  me  opportunity  to  celebrate  his  praise," 

Jt  was  during  this  afliiction  that  he  wrote  his  cele- 
brated work,  "the  Saints'  Everlasting  Rest:"*  a  work, 
the  usefulness  of  which  no  mortal  can  estimate.  It  was 
a  blessing  to  the  age  in  which  lie  lived,  and  will  con- 
tinue to  be  so  to  the  remotest  ages  of  time.  Had  he 
lived  only  to  write  this  work,  his  name  would  have 
been  held  in  "everlasting  remembrance." 

His  own  account  of  the  origin  and  progress  of  the 
work  is  interesting.  "The  second  book  which  I  wrote, 
and  the  tirst  which  I  began,  was  that  called  'The 
Saints'  Everlasting  Rest.'  Whilst  I  was  in  health,  I 
had  not  the  least  thought  of  writing  books,  or  of  serv- 
ing God  in  any  more  public  way  than  preaching;  but, 
when  I  was  weakened  w'ith  great  bleeding,  and  left 
solitary  in  my  chamber,  at  Sir  John  Cook's,  in  Derby- 
shire, without  any  acquaintance  but  my  servant  about 
me,  and  was  sentenced  to  death  by  the  physicians,  I 
beg^n  to  contemplate  more  seriously  the  everlasting 
rest  which  I  apprehended  myself  to  be  just  on  the 
borders  of.    And  that  ray  thoughts  might  not  too 

*  Published  by  the  American  Tract  Society.. 


LIFE  OF  BAXTER. 


37 


much  scatter  in  my  meditation,  I  began  to  write  some- 
thing on  that  subject,  intending  but  a  quantity  of  a 
sermon  or  two,  but  being  continued  long  in  weakness, 
where  I  had  no  books,  and  no  better  employment,  I 
pursued  it,  till  it  was  enlarged  to  the  bulk  in  which 
it  is  published.  The  first  three  weeks  I  spent  in  it  was 
at  Mr.  Nowel's,  in  Leicestershire ;  a  quarter  of  a  year 
more,  at  the  seasons  which  so  great  weakness  would 
allow,  I  bestowed  on  it  at  the  house  of  Sir  Thomas 
Rous,  in  Worcestershire;  and  I  finished  it,  shortly 
after,  at  Kidderminster.  The  first  and  last  parts  were 
first  done,  being  all  that  1  intended  for  my  own  use ; 
and  the  second  and  third  parts  were  written  afterwards, 
beyond  my  first  intention. 

This  book  it  pleased  God  so  far  to  bless  to  the  profit 
of  many,  that  it  encouraged  me  to  be  guilty  of  all  those 
writings  which  afterwards  followed.  The  marginal  ci- 
tations I  put  in  after  I  came  home  to  my  books ;  but 
almost  all  the  book  itself  was  written  when  I  had  no 
book  but  a  Bible  and  a  concordance.  And  I  found  that 
the  transcript  of  the  heart  has  the  greatest  force  on  the 
hearts  of  others.  For  the  good  that  I  have  heard  that 
multitudes  have  received  by  that  book,  and  the  benefit 
which  I  have  again  received  by  their  prayers,  I  here 

numbly  return  my  thanks  to  Him  that  compelled  me 

0  write  it." 

Anticipating  that  some  objection  might  be  made  in 
respect  to  its  style,  he  says,  in  his  dedication  of  the 
work  to  the  people  of  Kidderminster,  "  It  is  no  won- 
der, therefore,  if  I  am  too  abrupt  in  the  beginning,  see- 
ing I  then  intended  but  the  length  of  a  sermon  or  two. 
Much  less  may  you  wonder  if  the  whole  is  very  im- 
perfect, seeing  it  was  written,  as  it  were,  with  one  foot 
in  the  grave,  by  a  man  that  was  betwixt  living  and 

L.  B  4 


38 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


dead,  that  wanted  strength  of  nature  to  quicken  invert- 
lion  or  affection,  and  had  no  book  but  his  Bible  until 
the  chief  part  was  finished,  nor  had  any  regard  to  hu- 
man ornaments.  But,  O  how  sweet  is  this  providence 
now  to  my  review  !  that  so  happily  forced  me  to  the 
\vork  of  meditation,  which  I  had  formerly  found  so  pro- 
fitable to  my  soul !  and  showed  me  more  mercy  in  de- 
priving me  of  other  helps  than  I  was  aware  of!  and 
has  caused  my  thoughts  to  feed  on  this  heavenly  sub- 
ject, which  has  more  benefited  me  than  all  the  studies 
of  my  life  1" 

On  his  recovery  he  received  a  pressing  invitation  to 
return  to  his  old  charge  at  Kidderminster,  which  he 
instantly  and  cordially  accepted.  He  was  devotedly 
attached  to  his  people,  and  considered  himself  bound 
to  resist  all  attempts  to  procure  his  services  in  other 
places.  He  thus  affectionately  writes  to  "  his  beloved 
friends "  If  either  I  or  my  labors  have  any  public  use 
or  worth,  it  is  wholly,  though  not  only  yours ;  and  I 
am  convinced,  by  providence,  that  it  is  the  will  of  God 
it  should  be  so.  This  I  clearly  discerned  on  my  first 
coming  to  you,  in  my  former  abode  with  you,  and  in 
the  time  of  my  forced  absence  from  you.  When  I  was 
separated  by  the  miseries  of  the  late  unhappy  wars,  I 
durst  not  fix  in  any  other  congregation,  but  lived  in  a 
military  unpleasing  state,  lest  I  should  forestall  my  re- 
turn to  you,  for  whom  I  conceived  myself  reserved. 
The  offer  of  great  worldly  accommodations,  with  five 
times  the  means  I  receive  with  you,  was  no  temptation 
to  me  once  to  question  whether  I  should  leave  you 
Your  free  invitation  of  my  return,  your  obedience  to 
my  doctrine,  the  strong  affection  I  have  yet  towards 
you,  above  all  people,  and  the  general  hearty  return  of 
love  whici.  I  find  from  you,  do  all  persuade  me  that 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


39 


I  was  sent  into  the  world  especially  for  the  service  of 
your  souls." 

He  resumed  his  labors  under  great  bodily  weakness, 
"  being  seldom  an  hour  free  from  pain."  He  was  sub- 
ject to  repeated  attacks,  from  which  he  recovered,  ac- 
cording to  his  own  account,  chiefly  through  the  inter- 
cessions and  fervent  prayers  of.  his  friends.  "  Many  a 
time  have  I  been  brought  very  low,  and  received  the 
sentence  of  death  in  myself,  when  my  poor,  honest, 
praying  neighbors  have  met,  and,  upon  their  fasting 
and  earnest  prayers,  I  have  recovered.  Once,  when 
I  had  continued  very  feeble  three  weeks,  and  was  un- 
able to  go  abroad,  the  very  day  that  they  prayed  for 
me  I  recovered,  and  was  able  to  preach  on  the  follow- 
ing Sabbath,  and  administered  the  Lord's  supper;  and 
was  better  after  it,  it  being  the  first  time  that  ever  I 
administered  it.  And  ever  after  that,  whatever  weak- 
ness was  upon  me,  when  I  had,  after  preaching,  ad- 
ministered that  ordinance  to  many  hundred  people,  I 
was  much  revived  and  eased  of  my  infirmities." 

"Ohow  often,"  he  writes  in  his  '  Dying  Thoughts,' 
"  have  I  cried  to  Him,  when  men  and  means  were  no- 
thing, and  when  no  help  in  second  causes  appeared ; 
and  how  often,  and  suddenly,  and  mercifully  has  he 
delivered  me !  What  sudden  ease,  what  removal  of 
long  affliction  have  I  had  I  Such  extraordinary  changes, 
beyond  my  own  and  others'  expectations,  when  many 
plain-hearted,  upright  Christians  have,  by  fasting  and 
prayer,  sought  God  on  my  behalf,  as  have  over  and 
over  convinced  me  of  a  special  providence,  and  that 
God  is  indeed  a  hearer  of  prayer.  And  wonders  have 
I  seen  done  for  others  also,  upon  such  prayer,  more 
than  for  myself:  yea,  and  wonders  for  the  church,  and 
for  public  societies."    "  Shall  I  therefore  forget  how 


40 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


often  he  has  heard  prayers  for  me?  and  how  wonder- 
fully he  often  has  helped  both  rae  and  others;  my 
faith  has  been  helped  by  such  experiences,  and  shall  I 
forget  them,  or  question  them  without  cause  at  last  V- 

Baxter  relates  several  extraordinary  instances  of  an 
swers  to  prayer,  in  the  recovery  and  preservation  both 
of  himself  and  friends.  He  was  attentive  in  seeking 
such  blessings,  and  in  observing  such  circumstances ; 
and,  as  an  old  divine  justly  observes,  "  they  that  watch 
providence  shall  never  want  a  providence  to  watch." 
Having  now  brought  down  Baxter's  life  to  the  period 
when  he  settled  again  amongst  his  old  friends,  and  re- 
sumed his  accustomed  labors,  it  will  be  desirable  to 
.ntroduce,  in  an  abridged  form,  his  own  account  of  his 
"  employments,  success,  and  advantages,"  during  his 
fourteen  years'  continuance  among  them. 

1.  Employments. 

"I  preached,  before  the  wars,  twice  each  Lord's 
day ;  but,  after  the  war,  but  once,  and  once  every 
Thursday,  besides  occasional  sermons.  Every  Thurs- 
day evening,  my  neighbors  that  were  most  desirous, 
and  had  opportunity,  met  at  my  house,  and  there  one 
of  them  repeated  the  sermon ;  and  afterwards  they  pro- 
posed what  doubts  any  of  them  had  about  the  sermon, 
or  any  other  case  of  conscience,  and  I  resolved  their 
doubts.  And,  last  of  all,  I  caused  sometimes  one,  and 
sometimes  another  of  them  to  pray,  sometimes  praying 
with  them  myself.  Once  a  week,  also,  some  of  the 
young  who  were  not  prepared  to  pray  in  so  great  an 
assembly,  met  among  a  few  more  privately,  where 
they  spent  three  hours  in  prayer  together.  Every  Sa- 
turday night  they  met  at  some  of  their  houses  to  repeat 
the  sermon  of  the  last  Lord's  day,  and  to  pray  and  pre- 
pare themselves  for  the  following  day.  Once  in  a  few 


LIFE  OF  BAXTER. 


41 


weeks  we  had  a  day  of  humiliation,  on  one  occasion 
or  other.  Two  days  every  week  my  assistant  and  ray- 
self  took  fourteen  families  between  us  for  private  ca- 
techising and  conference ;  he  going  through  the  parish, 
and  the  town  coming  to  me.  I  first  heard  them  r?cite 
the  words  of  the  catechism,  and  then  examined  them 
about  the  sense,  and  lastly  urged  them,  with  all  possi- 
ble engaging  reason  and  vehemence,  to  answerable  af- 
fection and  practice.  If  any  of  them  were  perplexed 
through  ignorance  or  bashfulness,  I  forbore  to  press 
them  any  farther  to  answers,  but  made  them  hearers, 
and  either  examined  others,  or  turned  all  into  instruc- 
tion and  exhortation.  But  this,  I  have  opened  more 
fully  in  my  '.Reformed^Pastoj;.'  I  spent  about  an  hour 
with  a  family,  and  admitted  no  others  to  be  present, 
lest  bashfulness  should  make  it  burdensome,  or  any 
should  talk  of  the  weaknesses  of  others.  So  that  all 
the  afternoons,  on  Mondays  and  Tuesdays,  I  spent 
in  this,  after  I  had  begun  it ;  for  it  was  many  years  be- 
fore I  attempted  it;  and  my  assistant  spent  the  morn- 
ings of  the  same  days  in  the  same  employment.  Be- 
fore that,  I  only  catechised  them  in  the  church,  and  ^ 
conferred  with,  now  and  then  one  occasionally. 

"  Besides  all  this,  I  was  forced  five  or  six  years,  by 
the  people's  necessity,  to  practise  physic.  A  common 
pleurisy  happening  one  year,  and  no  physician  being 
near,  I  was  forced  to  advise  them,  to  save  their  lives ; 
and  I  could  not  afterwards  avoid  the  importunit)'-  of 
the  town  and  country  round  about.  And  because  1 
never  once  took  a  penny  of  any  one,  I  was  crowded 
with  patients,  so  that  almost  twenty  would  be  at  my 
door  at  once ;  and  though  God,  by  more  success  than 
I  expected,  so  long  encouraged  me,  yet,  at  last,  I  could 
endure  it  no  longer;  partly  because  it  hindered  my 

L.  B.  4* 


42 


LIFE  OF  BAXTE2. 


Other  studies,  and  partly  because  the  very  fear  of  mis- 
carrying and  doing  any  one  harm,  made  it  an  intolera- 
ble burden  to  me.  So  that,  after  some  years'  practice, 
I  procured  a  godly  diligent  physician  to  come  and  live 
in  twwn,  and  bound  myself,  by  promise,  to  practise  no 
more,  unless  in  consultation  with  him  in  case  of  any 
seeming  necessity.  And  so  with  that  answer  I  turned 
them  all  off,  and  never  meddled  with  it  more." 
2.  Success. 

"  I  have  mentioned  my  sweet  and  acceptable  em- 
ployment ;  let  me,  to  the  praise  of  my  gracious  Lord, 
acquaint  you  with  some  of  my  success.  And  I  will  not 
suppress  it,  though  I  foreknow  that  the  malignant  will 
impute  the  mention  of  it  to  pride  and  ostentation.  For 
it  is  the  sacrifice  of  thanksgiving  which  I  owe  to  my 
most  gracious  God,  which  I  will  not  deny  him  for  fear 
of  being  censured  as  proud,  lest  I  prove  myself  proud 
indeed,  while  I  cannot  undergo  the  imputation  of  pride 
in  the  offering  of  my  thanks  for  such  undeserved 
mercies. 

"  My  public  preaching  met  with  an  attentive,  dili- 
gent auditory.  Having  broke  over  the  brunt  of  the  op- 
position of  the  rabble  before  the  wars,  I  found  them 
afterwards  tractable  and  unprejudiced. 

"  Before  I  ever  entered  into  the  ministry,  God  bless- 
ed my  private  conference  to  the  conversion  of  some, 
who  remain  firm  and  eminent  in  holiness  to  this  day. 
Then,  and  in  the  beginning  of  my  ministry,  I  was 
wont  to  number  them  as  jewels ;  but  since  then  I  could 
not  keep  any  number  of  them. 

"  The  congregation  was  usually  full,  so  that  we 
were  led  to  build  five  galleries  after  my  coming  thi- 
ther, the  church  itself  being  very  capacious,  and  the 
most  commodious  and  convenient  that  ever  I  was  in. 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


Our  private  meetings  also  were  full.  On  the  Lord's 
day  there  was  no  disorder  to  be  seen  in  the  streets, 
but  you  might  hear  a  hundred  families  singing  psalms 
and  repeating  sermons,  as  you  passed  through  the 
streets.  In  a  word,  when  I  came  thither  first,  there 
was  about  one  family  in  a  street  that  worshipped  God 
and  called  on  his  name ;  and  when  I  came  away,  there 
were  some  streets  where  there  was  not  more  than  one 
family  in  the  side  of  a  street  that  did  not  so ;  and  that 
did  not,  in  professing  serious  godliness,  give  us  hopes 
of  their  sincerity.  And  of  those  families  which  were 
the  worst,  being  inns  and  ale-houses,  usually  some  per- 
sons in  each  house  did  seem  to  be  religious.  Though 
our  administration  of  the  Lord's  supper  was  so  order- 
ed as  displeased  many,  and  the  far  greater  part  kept 
themselves  away,  yet  we  had  six  hundred  that  were 
communicants,  of  whom  there  were  not  twelve  that  I 
had  not  good  hopes  of,  as  to  their  sincerity ;  and  those 
few  that  came  to  our  communion,  and  yet  lived  scan- 
dalously, were  excommunicated  afterwards.  And  I 
hope  there  were  many  who  feared  God  that  came  not 
to  our  communion,  some  of  them  being  kept  off  by 
husbands,  by  parents,  by  masters,  and  some  dissuaded 
by  men  that  differed  from  us. 

"  When  I  commenced  personal  conference  with  each 
family  and  catechising  them,  tiiere  were  very  few  fa- 
milies in  all  the  town  that  reiused  to  come ;  and  those 
few  were  beggars  at  the  town's  ends,  who  were  so  ig- 
norant that  they  were  ashamed  it  should  be  manifest. 
And  few  families  went  from  me  without  some  tears,  or 
seemingly  serious  promises  for  ^  godly  life.  Yet  many 
ignorant  and  ungodly  persons  there  were  still  among 
us ;  but  most  of  them  were  in  the  parish,  and  not  in 
the  town,  and  in  those  parts  of  the  parish  which  were 


44 


LIFE  OF  BAXTER. 


fartliest  from  the  town.  Some  of  the  poor  men  com- 
petently understood  the  body  of  divinity,  and  were 
able  to  judge  in  difficult  controversies.  Some  of  them 
were  so  able  in  prayer,  that  very  few  ministers  equalled 
them  in  order  and  fullness,  apt  expressions,  holy  ora- 
tory, and  fervency.  A  great  number  of  them  were  able 
to  pray  very  appropriately  with  their  famiUes,  or  with 
others.  The  temper  of  their  minds,  and  the  correct- 
ness of  their  lives,  were  even  more  commendable  than 
their  talents.  The  professors  of  serious  godliness  were 
generally  of  very  humble  minds  and  carriage ;  of  meek 
and  quiet  behavior  towards  others;  and  blameless  in 
their  conversation. 

"  And  in  my  poor  endeavors  with  my  brethren  in 
the  ministry,  m*y  labors  were  not  lost.  Our  discussions 
proved  not  unprofitable ;  our  meetings  were  never  con- 
tentious, but  always  comfortable.  We  took  great  de- 
light in  the  company  of  each  other ;  so  that  I  know 
the  remembrance  of  those  days  is  pleasant  both  to  them 
and  me.  When  discouragements  had  long  kept  me 
from  proposing  a  way  of  church  order  and  discipline 
which  all  might  agree  in,  that  we  might  neither  have 
churches  ungoverned,  nor  fall  into  divisions  among 
ourselves  at  the  first  mention  of  it,  I  found  a  readier 
consent  than  I  could  expect,  and  all  went  on  without 
any  great  difficulties.  And  when  I  attempted  to  bring 
them  all  conjointly  to  the  work  of  catechising  and  in- 
structing every  family  by  itself,  I  found  a  ready  con- 
sent in  most,  and  performance  in  many.  So  that  I 
must  here,  to  the  praise  of  my  dear  Redeemer,  set  up 
this  pillar  of  remembrance,  even  to  his  praise  who 
hath  employed  me  so  many  years  in  so  comfortable  a 
work,  with  such  encouraging  success !  O  what  am  I, 
a  worthless  worm,  not  only  wanting  academical  ho- 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


45 


nors,  but  much  of  that  furniture  which  is  needful  to  so 
high  a  work,  that  God  should  thus  abundantly  encou- 
rage me,  wlien  the  reverend  instructors  of  my  youth 
labored  fifty  years  together  in  one  place,  and  could 
scarcely  say  they  had  been  instrumental  in  the  con- 
version of  even  one  or  two  of  their  hearers.  And  the 
greater  was  this  mercy,  because  I  was  naturally  of  a 
desponding  spirit ;  so  that  if  I  had  preached  one  year, 
and  seen  no  fruits  of  it,  I  should  hardly  have  forborne 
running  away  like  Jonah,  but  should  have  thought 
that  God  called  me  not  to  that  place." 
•    3.  Advantages. 

"  Having  related  my  encouraging  successes  in  this 
place,  I  shall  next  tell  you  by  what  and  how  many 
advantages  so  much  was  effected,  under  that  grace 
which  worketh  by  means,  though  with  a  free  diversi- 
ty; which  I  do  for  the  help  of  others  in  managing  ig- 
norant and  sinful  people. 

"  One  advantage  was,  that  I  came  to  a  people  that 
never  had  any  awakening  ministry  before.  For  if  they 
had  been  hardened  under  a  powerful  ministry,  and 
been  sermon  proof,  I  should  have  expected  less. 

"  Another  advantage  was,  that  at  first  I  was  in  the 
vigor  of  my  spirits,  and  had  naturally  a  familiar  mov- 
ing voice,  which  is  a  great  matter  with  the  common 
hearers ;  and  doing  all  in  bodily  weakness,  as  a  dying 
man,  my  soul  was  the  more  easily  brought  to  serious- 
ness, and  to  preach  as  a  dying  man  to  dying  men ;  for 
drowsy  formality  does  but  stupify  the  hearers  and 
rock  them  asleep.  It  must  be  serious  preaching  which 
makes  men  serious  in  hearing  and  obeying  it." 

"  Another  advantage  which  I  had  was,  the  accepta- 
tion of  my  person.  Though  to  win  estimation  and 
love  to  ourselves  only,  be  an  end  that  none  but  proud 


46 


LIFE  OF  BAXTER. 


men  and  hypocrites  intend,  yet  it  is  most  certain  that 
the  acceptableness  of  the  person  ingratiates  the  message, 
and  greatly  prepares  the  people  to  receive  the  truth, 
y  Had  they  taken  me  to  be  ignorant,  erroneous,  scanda- 
/  lous,  worldly,  self-seeking,  or  such  like,  I  could  have 
expected  small  success  among  them. 

"  Another  advantage  which  I  had  was  through  the 
zeal  and  diligence  of  the  godly  people  of  the  place,  who 
thirsted  after  the  salvation  of  their  neighbors,  and  were, 
in  private,  my  assistants ;  and  being  dispersed  through 
the  town,  they  were  ready,  in  almost  all  companies, 
to  repress  seducing  words,  and  to  justify  godliness,  and 
convince,  reprove,  and  exhort  men  according  to  their 
needs ;  and  also  to  teach  them  how  to  pray,  and  to 
help  them  to  sanctify  the  Lord's  day.  Those  people 
that  had  none  in  their  families  who  could  pray  or  re- 
peat the  sermons,  went  to  the  houses  of  their  neigh- 
bors who  could  do  it,  and  joined  with  them ;  so  that 
some  houses  of  the  ablest  men  in  each  street  were  filled 
with  them  that  could  do  nothing  or  little  in  their  own. 

"  And  the  holy,  humble,  blameless  lives  of  the  reli- 
gious was  a  great  advantage  to  me.  The  malicious  peo- 
ple could  not  say.  Your  professors  here  are  as  proud 
and  covetous  as  any.  But  the  blameless  lives  of  godly 
people  shamed  opposers,  and  put  to  silence  the  igno- 
rance of  foolish  men,  and  many  were  won  by  their 
good  conversation." 

"  Our  private  meetings  were  a  marvellous  help  to 
the  propagating  of  godliness  among  them ;  for  thereby 
truths  that  slipped  away  were  recalled,  and  the  seri- 
ousness of  the  people's  minds  renewed,  and  good  de 
sires  cherished  ;  and  hereby  their  knowledge  was  much 
increased;  and  here  the  younger  Christians  learned 
to  pray,  by  frequently  hearing  others.  And  here  I  had 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


Opportunity  to  know  their  case ;  for  if  any  were  touch- 
ed and  awakened  in  public,  I  would  presently  see  them 
drop  in  to  our  private  meetings." 

"  Another  furtherance  of  my  work  was  the  works 
which  I  wrote  and  distributed  among  them.  Of  some 
small  books  I  gave  each  family  one,  which  came  to 
about  eight  hundred ;  of  the  larger  I  gave  fewer  ;  and 
to  every  family  that  was  poor,  and  had  not  a  Bible,  I 
gave  a  Bible.  I  had  fomid,  myself,  the  benefit  of  read- 
ing to  be  so  great,  that  1  could  not  but  think  it  would 
be  profitable  to  others. 

"  And  it  was  a  great  advantage  to  me,  that  my  neigh- 
bors were  of  such  a  trade  as  allowed  them  time  enough 
to  read  or  talk  of  holy  things  ;  for  the  town  liveth  upon 
the  weaving  of  Kidderminster  stuffs,  and  as  they  stand 
in  their  loom  they  can  set  a  book  before  them,  or  edify 
one  another." 

And  I  found  that  my  single  life  afforded  me  much 
advantage ;  for  I  could  the  more  easily  take  my  people 
for  my  children,  and  think  all  that  I  had  too  little  for 
them,  in  that  I  had  no  children  of  my  own  to  tempt 
me  to  another  way  of  using  it.  And  being  discharged 
from  the  most  of  family  cares,  keeping  but  one  ser- 
vant, I  had  the  more  time  and  liberty  for  the  labors  of 
my  calling. 

"  And  God  made  use  of  my  practice  of  physic  among 
them  as  a  very  great  advantage  to  my  ministry ;  for 
they  that  cared  not  for  their  souls,  loved  their  lives 
and  cared  for  their  bodies.  And  by  this  they  were 
made  almost  as  observant  as  a  tenant  is  of  his  land- 
lord. Sometimes  I  could  see  before  me  in  the  church 
a  very  considerable  part  of  the  congregation,  whose 
lives  God  had  made  me  a  means  to  save,  or  to  recover 


48 


LIFE  OF  BAXTER. 


their  health  ;  and  doing  it  for  nothing,  so  obliged  them, 
that  they  would  readily  hear  me. 

"  And  it  was  a  great  advantage  to  me,  that  there 
were  at  last  few  that  were  bad,  who  had  not  some  of 
their  own  relations  converted.  Many  children  were 
subjects  of  God's  grace  at  fourteen,  or  fifteen,  or  sixteen 
years  of  age;  and  this  did  marvellously  reconcile  the 
minds  of  their  parents  to  godliness.  They  that  would 
not  hear  me,  would  hear  their  own  children.  They 
that  before  could  have  talked  against  godliness,  would 
not  hear  it  spoken  against  when  it  was  their  children's 
case.  3Iany  that  would  not  be  brought  to  it  themselves, 
were  gratified  that  they  had  intelligent  religious  chil- 
dren. And  we  had  some  persons  near  eighty  years  of 
age,  who  are,  I  hope,  in  heaven,  and  the  conversion  of 
their  own  children  was  the  chief  means  to  overcome 
their  prejudice,  and  old  customs,  and  conceits. 

"  And  God  made  great  use  of  sickness  to  do  good  to 
many.  For  though  sick-bed  promises  are  usually  soon 
forgotten,  yet  was  it  otherwise  with  many  among  us ; 
and  as  soon  as  they  were  recovered,  they  first  came 
to  our  private  meetings,  and  so  kept  in  a  learning  state, 
till  further  fruits  of  piety  appeared." 

"  Another  of  ray  great  advantages  was,  the  true 
worth  and  unanimity  of  the  honest  ministers  of  the 
country  round  about  us,  who  associated  in  a  way  of 
concord  with  us.  Their  preaching  was  powerful  and 
sober;  their  spirits  peaceable  and  meek,  disowning  the 
treasons  aad  iniquities  of  the  times,  as  well  as  we ;  they 
were  wholly  devoted  to  the  winning  of  souls ;  self- 
denying,  and  of  most  blameless  lives ;  evil  spoken  of 
by  no  sober  men,  but  greatly  beloved  by  their  own 
people  and  all  that  knew  them ;  adhenng  to  no  fac- 
tion ;  neither  Episcopal;  Presbyterian,  nor  Independ* 


LIFE  OF  BAXTER. 


49 


ent,  as  to  parties;  but  desiring  union,  and  loving  that 
which  is  good,  in  all." 

"  Another  great  help  to  my  success  at  last,  was  the 
before  described  work  of  personal  conference  with 
every  family  apart,  and  catechising  and  instructing 
them.  That  which  was  spoken  to  them  personally, 
and  sometimes  drew  forth  their  answers,  awakened 
their  attention,  and  was  more  easily  applied  than  pub- 
lic preaching,  and  seemed  to  do  much  more  upon  them. 

"  And  the  exercise  of  church  discipline  was  no  small 
furtherance  of  the  people's  good  ;  for  I  found  plainly, 
that  without  it  I  could  not  have  kept  the  more  spiritual 
from  separations  and  divisions.  There  is  something 
generally  in  their  dispositions  which  inclines  them  to 
separate  from  open  ungodly  sinners,  as  men  of  ano- 
ther nature  and  society;  and  if  they  had  not  seen  me 
do  something  reasonable  for  a  regular  separation  of  the 
notorious  obstinate  sinners  from  the  rest,  they  would 
have  withdrawn  themselves  irregularly ;  and  it  would 
not  have  been  in  my  power  to  satisfy  them." 

Another  means  of  success  was,  directing  my  in 
structions  to  them  in  a  suitableness  to  the  main  end, 
and  yet  so  as  might  suit  their  dispositions  and  diseases. 
I  daily  opened  to  them,  and  with  the  greatest  impor- 
tunity labored  to  imprint  upon  their  minds  the  great 
fundamental  principles  of  Christianity,  even  a  right 
knowledge  and  belief  of,  and  subjection  and  love  to 
God  the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost ;  and 
love  to  all  men,  and  concord  with  the  church  and  one 
another.  I  daily  so  inculcated  the  knowledge  of  God 
our  Creator,  Redeemer,  and  Sanctifier,  and  love  and 
obedience  to  God,  and  unity  with  the  spiritual  church, 
and  love  to  men,  and  hope  of  life  eternal,  that  these 
were  the  matter  of  their  daily  thoughts  and  discourses, 

L.  B.  5 


50 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


and  indeed  their  religion.  And  yet  I  usually  put  some- 
thing in  my  sermon  which  was  above  their  own  dis- 
covery, and  which  they  had  not  known  before ;  and 
this  I  did,  that  they  might  be  kept  humble,  and  still 
perceive  their  ignorance,  and  be  willing  to  keep  in  a 
learning  state.  And  I  did  this  also  to  increase  their 
knowledge  and  make  religion  pleasant  to  them,  by  a 
daily  addition  to  their  former  light,  and  to  draw  them 
on  with  desire  and  delight.  But  these  things  which 
they  did  not  know  before,  were  not  unprofitable  con- 
troversies, whicji  tended  not  to  edification,  nor  novel- 
ties in  doctrine,  contrary  to  the  universal  church ;  but 
either  such  points  as  tended  to  illustrate  the  great  doc- 
trines before-mentioned,  or  usually  about  the  right  me- 
thodizing of  them ;  as  the  opening  of  the  true  and  pro- 
fitable method  of  the  creed  or  doctrine  of  faith,  the  Lord's 
prayer  or  m.atter  of  our  desires,  and  the  ten  command- 
ments or  law  of  practice ;  which  afford  matter  to  add 
to  the  knowledge  of  most  professors  of  religion  a  long 
time.  And  when  that  is  done,  they  must  be  led  on  still 
further,  by  degrees,  as  they  are  capable ;  but  so  as  not 
to  leave  the  weak  behind  ;  and  so  as  shall  still  be  truly 
subservient  to  the  great  points  of  faith,  hope,  and  love, 
holiness  and  unity,  which  must  be  still  inculcated  as 
the  beginning  and  the  end  of  all." 

"  And  it  much  furthered  my  success,  that  I  stayed 
still  in  this  one  place  near  two  years  before  the  wars, 
and  above  fourteen  years  after;  for  he  that  removeth 
often  from  place  to  place,  may  sow  good  seed  in  many 
places,  but  is  not  likely  to  see  much  fruit  in  any,  un- 
less some  other  skillful  hand  shall  follow  him  to  water 
it.  It  was  a  great  advantage  to  me  to  have  almost  all 
the  religious  people  of  the  place  of  my  own  instruct- 
ing and  informing ;  and  that  tliey  were  not  formed 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


51 


into  erroneous  and  factious  principles  before ;  and  that 
I  stayed  to  see  them  grown  up  to  some  confirmedness 
and  maturity." 

These  passages  strikingly  depict  the  means  and  ef- 
fects of  a  revival  of  religion.  Only  let  love  to  the  Re- 
deemer burn  with  quenchless  ardor  in  the  breast,  and 
eternity  with  its  tremendous  and  unutterable  conse- 
quences be  distinctly  realized  ;  compassion  to  immor- 
tal spirits  infuse  its  tenderness  and  solicitude  through- 
out the  soul ;  a  deep  and  unfailing  sense  of  ministerial 
responsibility  rest  upon  the  conscience ;  then  all  the 
powers,  talents,  and  influence  that  can  be  commanded, 
will  be  brought  into  exercise,  and  made  to  bear  with 
unceasing  energy  on  the  great  work  of  saving  immor- 
tal souls,  and  then  the  Lord  will  command  his  "  bless- 
ing, even  life  for  evermore." 

The  secret  of  Baxter's  success,  perhaps,  consisted 
prominently  in  the  zeal,  affection,  and  perseverance  he 
displayed  in  following  his  'people  to  their'  homes.  His 
visits  from  house  to  house  were  for  the  purpose  of  ap- 
plying with  more  close  and  pungent  force  the  truths 
which  were  taught  from  the  pulpit,  or  learned  in  the 
systematic  instructions  which  were  given  to  families 
and  to  children.  And  it  is  remarkable  that  his  success 
in  the  earliest  period  of  his  ministry  was  chiefly 
amongst  the  young.  In  the  preface  to  his  work  enti- 
tled "  Compassionate  Counsel  to  all  Young  Men,"  &c. 
he  observes—"  At  Kidderminster,  where  God  most 
blessed  my  labors,  my  first  and  greatest  success  was 
with  the  youth :  and  what  was  a  marvellous  way  of 
divine  mercy,  when  God  had  touched  the  hearts  of 
young  people,  and  brought  them  to  the  love  and  obedi- 
ence of  the  truth,  the  parents  and  grand-parents  who 
had  grown  old  in  an  ignorant  and  worldly  stale,  enibrac- 


52 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


ed  religion,  led  by  the  love  of  their  children,  whom 
they  perceived  to  be  made,  by  it,  much  wiser  and  bet- 
ter, and  more  dutiful  to  them." — "  By  much  experience 
I  have  been  made  more  sensible  of  the  necessity  of 
warning  and  instructing  youth,  than  I  was  before. 
Many  say  reports  have  taught  it  to  me  ;  the  sad  com- 
plaints of  mournful  parents  have  taught  it  me ;  the 
sad  observation  of  the  willful  impenitence  of  some  of 
my  acquaintance  tells  it  me;  the  many  scores,  if  not 
hundreds  of  bills,  that  have  been  publicly  put  up  to  me 
to  pray  for  wicked  and  obstinate  children,  have  told  it 
me;  and,  by  the  grace  of  God,  the  penitent  confes- 
sions, lamentations,  and  restitutions  of  many  converts, 
have  made  me  more  particularly  acquainted  with  their 
case ;  which  moved  me  for  a  time,  on  my  Thursday's 
lecture,  the  first  of  every  month,  to  speak  to  youth 
and  those  that  educate  them." 

The  religious  education  of  youth  is  of  infinite  im- 
portance to  families  and  to  a  nation,  to  the  church 
and  the  world. 

The  youthful  members  of  his  congregation  should 
engage  the  anxious  attention  of  every  pastor.  They 
are  the  hopes  of  his  ministry.  With  them  truth  meets 
the  readiest  reception.  Among  them  conversion  most 
frequently  takes  place.  From  them  the  most  valuable 
members  of  Christian  society  are  obtained.  Rising 
into  life,  their  influence  is  exerted  wholly  on  the  side 
of  truth  and  piety  ;  and  when  more  matured  in  years, 
their  instructions  and  example  benefit  and  bless  their 
iiamilies,  their  connexions,  and  the  world.  The  con- 
version of  a  soul  in  the  period  of  youth  prevents  its 
entering  on  a  course  of  sin,  engages  it  to  the  practice 
of  lioliness,  ensures  the  exertion  of  its  influence  in  be- 
half of  God  and  his  cause  through  the  whole  of  its 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


53 


earthly  being  ;  and  tlius  a  career  of  happiness  begins 
which  shall  'xtend  throughout  eternity. 

In  conpsction  with  this  statement  of  Baxter's  labors 
and  sue  ;ss,  some  notice  may  be  taken  of  his  work 
entitled  the  "  Reformed  Pastor,"  written  expressly  to 
arouse  the  attention  and  excite  the  eftbrts  of  the  Chris- 
tian ministry  to  the  great  work  in  which  he  himself 
had  so  successfully  engaged.  His  reverend  brethren 
had  witnessed  the  astonishing  results  of  his  pastoral 
engagements,  and  were  anxious  to  make  some  efforts 
to  accomplish  among  their  own  people  similar  results. 
A  day  of  fasting  and  prayer  was  appointed  by  them- 
selves at  Worcester,  before  entering  on  their  untried 
labors,  and  Baxter  was  requested  to  preach  on  the  oc- 
casion. He  prepared  his  sermon,  but  his  illness  pre- 
vented his  preaching.  He  therefore  enlarged  his  ser- 
mon into  a  treatise,  and  published  it.  Concerning  this 
work  he  says  : 

"  I  have  very  great  cause  to  be  thankful  to  God  for 
the  success  of  that  book,  as  hoping  many  thousand 
souls  are  the  better  for  it,  in  that  it  prevailed  with 
many  ministers  to  set  upon  that  work  which  I  there 
exhort  them  to.  Even  from  beyond  the  seas  I  have 
had  letters  of  request  to  direct  them  how  they  might 
promote  that  work,  according  as  that  book  had  con- 
vinced them  that  it  was  their  duty.  If  God  would  but 
reform  the  ministry,  and  set  them  on  their  duties 
zealously  and  faithfully,  the  people  would  certainly 
be  reformed.  All  churches  either  rise  or  fall  as  the 
ministry  rise  or  fall,  not  in  riches  and  worldly  gran- 
deur, but  in  knowledge,  zeal,  and  ability  for  their 
work." 

Many  and  just  encomiums  have  been  passed  on  this 
work.  "In  the  whole  compass  of  divinity  there  is 

L.  B.  5* 


54 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


scarcely  any  thing  superior  to  it,  in  close  pathetic 
appeals  to  the  conscience  of  the  minister  of  Christ, 
upon  the  primary  duties  of  his  office."  The  editor  of 
a  recent  edition  justly  says,  "  Of  the  excellence  of 
this  work  it  is  scarcely  possihle  to  speak  in  too  high 
terms.  For  powerful,  pathetic,  pungent,  and  heart- 
piercing  address,  we  know  of  no  work  on  the  pastoral 
care  to  be  compared  with  it.  Could  we  suppose  it  to 
be  read  by  an  angel,  or  by  some  other  being  possessed 
of  an  unl'allen  nature,  the  argumentation  and  expostu- 
lations of  our  author  would  be  felt  to  be  altogether 
irresistible :  and  harcf  must  be  the  heart  of  that  minis- 
ter who  can  read  it  without  being  moved,  melted,  and 
overwhelmed :  hard  must  be  his  heart,  if  he  be  not 
roused  to  greater  faithfulness,  diligence,  and  activity 
in  winning  souls  to  Christ.  It  is  a  work  worthy  of  be- 
ing printed  in  letters  of  gold.  It  deserves,  at  least,  to 
be  engraven  on  the  heart  of  every  minister.  I  cannot 
help  suggesting  to  the  friends  of  religion  that  they 
could  not,  perhaps,  do  more  good  at  less  expense,  than 
by  presenting  copies  of  this  work  to  the  ministers  of 
Christ  throughout  the  country.  They  are  the  chief 
instruments  through  whom  good  is  to  be  effected  in 
any  country.  How  important,  then,  must  it  be  to  stir 
them  up  to  holy  zeal  and  activity  in  the  cause  of 
the  Redeemer !  A  tract  given  to  a  poor  man  may  be  the 
means  of  his  conversion;  but  a  work,  such  as  this, 
presented  to  a  minister,  may,  through  his  increased 
faithfulness  and  energy,  prove  the  conversion  of  mul- 
titudes." 

In  addition  to  Baxter's  numerous  ministerial  and 
pastoral  labors,  he  was  consulted  by  persons  of  all 
classes  and  professions  on  the  various  subjects  connect- 
ed with  church  and  state,  which  at  that  period  were 


LIFE  OF  BAXTER. 


55 


hotly  and  fiercely  agitated.  His  pacific  disposition,  and 
his  desire  to  promote  universal  concord  among  all  re- 
ligious parties,  were  generally  known.  Hence  his  ad- 
vice was  eagerly  sought  by  all.  This  must  have  occu- 
pied no  small  portion  of  his  time,  and  caused  him  no 
little  anxiety.  He  gives  a  curious  account  of  his  being 
consulted  by  Cromwell,  and  his  preaching  before  him. 

"At  this  time  Lord  Broghill  and  the  Earl  of  Warwick 
brought  me  to  preach  before  Cromwell,  the  protector, 
which  was  the  only  time  that  ever  I  preached  to  him, 
save  once  long  before,  when  he  was  an  Inferior  man 
among  other  auditors.  I  knew  not  which  way  to  pro- 
voke liim  better  to  his  duty,  than  by  preaching  on  1 
Cor.  1 : 10,  against  the  divisions  and  distractions  of 
the  church,  and  showing  how  mischievous  a  thing  it 
was  for  politicans  to  maintain  such  divisions  for  their 
own  ends,  that  they  might  fish  in  troubled  waters,  and 
keep  the  church,  by  its  divisions,  in  a  state  of  weakness, 
lest  it  should  be  able  to  offend  them:  and  to  show  the 
necessity  and  means  of  union.  But  the  plainness  and 
nearness,!  heard,  was  displeasing  to  him  and  his  cour- 
tiers; yet  they  bore  with  it. 

"A  while  after,  Cromwell  sent  to  speak  with  me; 
and  when  I  came,  in  the  presence  only  of  three  of  his 
chief  men,  he  began  a  long  and  tedious  speech  to  me 
of  God's  providence  in  the  change  of  the  government, 
and  how  God  had  owned  it,  and  what  great  things  had 
been  done  at  home  and  abroad,  in  the  peace  with  Spain 
and  Holland,  &c.  When  he  had  wearied  us  all  with 
speaking  thus  slowly  about  an  hour,  I  told  him  it  was 
too  great  condescension  to  acquaint  me  so  fully  with 
all  these  matters  which  were  above  me,  but  that  we 
took  our  ancient  monarchy  to  be  a  blessing,  and  not 
an  evil  to  the  land,  and  humbly  craved  his  patience, 


56 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


that  I  might  ask  him  how  England  had  ever  forfeited 
that  blessing,  and  unto  whom  the  forfeiture  was  made  ? 
I  was  led  to  speak  of  the  species  of  government  only, 
for  they  iiad  lately  made  it  treason  by  a  law  to  speak 
for  the  person  of  the  king.  Upon  that  question  he  was 
awakened  into  some  passion,  and  told  me  it  was  no  for 
feiture,  but  God  had  changed  it  as  pleased  him ;  and 
then  he  let  fly  at  the  parliament,  which  thwarted  him; 
and  especially  by  name  at  four  or  five  of  those  mem- 
bers who  were  my  chief  acquaintance ;  and  I  presumed 
to  defend  them  against  his  passion  :  and  thus  four  or 
five  hours  were  spent. 

"A  few  days  after,  he  sent  for  me  again,  to  hear  my 
judgment  about  liberty  of  conscience,  which  he  pre- 
tended to  be  most  zealous  for,  before  almost  all  his  pri- 
vy council,  where,  after  another  slow,  tedious  speech 
of  his,  I  told  him  a  little  of  my  judgment." 

Baxter  was  also  consulted  by  various  private  indivi- 
duals on  cases  of  conscience,  which  he  was  requested 
to  solve.  To  these  he  lent  a  willing  ear,  and  adminis- 
tered suitable  advice ;  or  he  replied  to  them  in  suitable 
and  interesting  letters.  This  must  have  occupied  his 
time  considerably.  Besides,  during  his  residence  at 
Kidderminster,  and  while  pursuing  his  indefatigable 
labors  among  his  flock,  he  wrote  and  published  nearly 
sixty  different  works,  many  of  them  quarto  volumes  of 
considerable  size.  Among  these  may  be  specially  enu- 
merated, in  addition  to  those  already  noticed,  his  "Call 
to  the  Unconverted,"*  his  "  Treatise  on  Conversion," 
"  On  Self-denial,"  on  "  Crucifying  the  World,"  on 
"  Peace  of  Conscience,"  &c.  &c.  &c. 

These  herculean  labors  seem  incredible.  But  for  the 

•Published  by  the  American  Tract  Society. 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


57 


existence  of  the  works  themselves,  his  own  declara- 
tions, and  the  concurring  testimony  of  his  several  bio- 
graphers, it  would  have  been  deemed  impossible  that, 
with  his  enfeebled  health  and  incessant  pain,  he  could 
have  accomplished  so  much  in  so  short  a  time. 

His  own  account  of  his  general  labors  shows  at  once 
his  piety  and  devotedness,  his  spirit  and  energy,  his 
zeal  and  perseverance.  He  remarks : 

"  But  all  these  my  labors,  except  my  private  con- 
ferences with  the  families,  even  preaching  and  prepar- 
ing for  it,  were  but  my  recreaiions,  and,  as  it  were,  the 
work  of  my  spare  hours ;  for  my  writings  were  my 
chief  daily  labor,  which  yet  went  the  more  slowly  on, 
that  I  never  one  hour  had  an  amanuensis  to  dictate  to, 
and  especially  because  my  weakness  took  up  so  much 
of  my  time.  For  all  the  pains  that  my  infirmities  ever 
brought  upon  me,  were  never  half  so  grievous  an  afflic- 
tion to  me  as  the  unavoidable  loss  of  my  time  which 
they  occasioned." 

His  treatise  on  "  Self-denial"  originated  in  his  deep 
conviction  of  the  "breadth,  and  length,  and  depth  of 
the  radical,  universal,  odious  sin  of  selfishness."  Un- 
der this  conviction  he  preached  a  series  of  sermons  on 
the  subject,  and,  at  the  urgent  entreaty  of  his  friends, 
he  published  them  in  the  form  they  now  assume.  He 
says  that  the  work  "  found  better  acceptance  than 
most  of  his  others,  but  yet  prevented  not  the  ruin  of 
church  and  state,  and  millions  of  souls  by  that  sin." 

Previous  to  this  he  had  published  his  work  on  "  Con- 
version." This  he  says  "  was  taken  from  plain  sermons 
which  Mr.  Baldwin  bad  transcribed  out  of  my  notes. 
And  though  I  had  no  leisure,  in  this  or  other  writings, 
to  take  much  care  of  the  style,  nor  to  add  any  orna- 
ments, or  citations  of  authors,  I  thought  it  might  better 


58 


LIFE  OF  BAXTER. 


pass  as  it  was,  than  not  at  all;  and  that  if  the  author 
missed  of  the  applause  of  the  learned,  yet  the  book 
might  be  profitable  to  the  ignorant,  as  it  proved, 
through  the  great  mercy  of  God." 

Apologizing  for  the  plainness  and  earnestness  of  his 
manner,  he  observes,  "  The  commonness  and  the  great- 
ness of  men's  necessity  commanded  me  to  do  any  thing 
that  I  could  for  their  relief,  and  to  bring  forth  some 
water  to  cast  upon  this  fire,  though  I  had  not  at  hand 
a  silver  vessel  to  carry  it  in,  nor  thought  it  the  most  fit. 
The  plainest  words  are  the  most  profitable  oratory  in 
the  weightiest  matters.  Fineness  is  for  ornament,  and 
delicacy  for  delight ;  but  they  answer  not  necessity, 
though  sometimes  they  may  modestly  attend  that  which 
answers  it.  Yea,  when  they  are  conjunct,  it  is  hard  for 
the  necessitous  hearer  or  reader  to  observe  the  matter 
of  ornament  and  delicacy,  and  not  to  be  carried  from 
the  matter  of  necessity ;  and  to  hear  or  read  a  neat,  con- 
cise, sententious  discourse,  and  not  to  be  hurt  by  it; 
for  it  usually  hinders  the  due  operation  of  the  matter, 
keeps  it  from  the  heart,  stops  it  in  the  fancy,  and  makes 
it  seem  as  light  as  the  style.  AVe  use  not  compliments 
when  we  run  to  quench  a  common  fire,  nor  do  we  call 
men  to  escape  from  it  by  an  eloquent  speech.  If  we 
see  a  man  fall  into  fire  or  water,  we  regard  not  the  man- 
ner of  plucking  him  out,  but  lay  hands  upon  him  as  we 
can,  whhout  delay." 

Baxter's  "  Call  to  the  Unconverted  "  was  made  re- 
markably useful.  He  says,  "  The  occasion  of  this  was 
my  converse  with  Bishop  Usher,  while  I  was  at  Lon- 
don, who,  much  approving  my  method  or  directions 
for  peace  of  conscience,  was  importunate  with  me  to 
write  directions  suited  to  the  various  states  of  Chris- 
tian?, and  also  against  particular  sins.  I  reverenced  the 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


59 


man,  but  disregarded  these  persuasions,  supposing  I 
could  do  nothing  but  what  was  done  as  well  or  better  al- 
ready. But  when  he  was  dead,  his  words  went  deeper 
lo  my  mind,  and  I  purposed  to  obey  his  counsel]  yei 
so  as  that  to  the  first  sort  of  men,  the  ungodly,  I  thought 
vehement  persuasions  meeter  than  directions  only. 
And  so  for  such  I  published  this  little  book,  whicii 
God  has  blessed  with  unexpected  success  beyond  all 
the  rest  that  I  have  written,  except  the  Saints'  Rest. 
In  a  little  more  than  a  year  there  were  about  twenty 
thousand  of  them  printed  by  my  own  consent,  and 
about  ten  thousand  since,  besides  many  thousands  by 
stolen  impressions,  which  men  stole  lor  lucre's  sake. 
Through  God's  mercy  I  have  had  information  of  al- 
most whole  households  converted  by  this  small  book, 
which  I  set  so  light  by.  And  as  if  all  this  in  England, 
Scotland,  and  Ireland  were  not  mercy  enough  to  me, 
God,  since  I  was  silenced,  has  sent  it  over  on  his  mes- 
sage to  many  beyond  the  seas ;  for  when  Mr.  Eliot  had 
printed  the  Bible  in  the  Indian  language,  he  next 
translated  this  my  '  Call  to  the  Unconverted,'  as  he 
wrote  to  us  here." 

In  addition  to  its  usefulness  mentioned  by  Baxter 
himself.  Dr.  Bates  relates  an  instance  of  six  brothers 
being  converted  at  one  time  by  this  invaluable  book. 
To  this  work,  multitudes  now  in  glory,  and  many  ad- 
vancing thither,  stand  indebted  for  their  first  serious 
impressions.  Urged  by  its  awful  denunciations,  they 
have  fled  from  the  "  city  of  destruction ;"  they  have 
sought  refuge  at  the  cross  of  Calvary.  Like  the  preach- 
ing of  John,  it  awakens,  alarms,  and  terrifies,  that  it 
may  lead  to  peace,  holiness,  and  glory,  through  Christ. 

Among  other  methods  of  doing  good,  Baxter  adopt- 
ed the  plan  which  is  now  so  generally  employed,  of 


60 


LIFE  or  BAXTER* 


publishing  small  tracts,  broadsheets,  or  liaiidbills.  He 
pubhshed  various  broadsheets,  and  had  them  affixed 
to  walls  and  public  buildings,  that  the  attention  of  pas- 
sengers might  be  arrested,  and  that  those  who  had  no 
leisure  for  larger  works,  or  were  indisposed  to  pur- 
chase treatises,  might  be  informed,  edified,  and  saved. 
This  plan  he  adopted  with  great  success  during  the 
raging  of  the  plague. 

This  was  certainly  the  most  active,  useful,  and  im* 
portant  period  of  his  life.  His  labors  subsequently  to 
this  were  of  a  more  chequered,  desultory,  and  less  ob- 
vious character.  Their  results,  though  undoubtedly 
great,  inasmuch  as  he  labored  with  the  same  zeal,  pie- 
ty, and  devotedness  as  heretofore,  yet  could  not  be 
perceived  so  manifestly  as  when  his  efforts  were  con- 
centrated in  one  spot,  and  were  superintended  by  his 
untiring  pastoral  vigilance.  The  time  of  persecution 
for  conscience'  sake  was  at  hand.  He  therefore,  in 
common  wiih  multitudes  of  his  brethren,  was  obhged 
to  labor  in  such  places,  and  on  such  occasions  only,  as 
the  providence  of  God  pointed  out.  But  these  labors 
were  not  in  vain,  for,  as  in  days  of  old,  they  "  that 
were  scattered  abroad,  went  every  where  preaching 
the  word." 


CHAPTER  IV. 

HIS  ENGAGEaiENTS  AFTER  LEAVING  KIDDERMINSTER. 

Baxter  had  acquired  great  celebrity,  both  as  a 
preacher  and  writer.  He  was  known,  moreover,  to  be 


LIFE   OF  BAXTLH. 


61 


an  ardent  friend  to  civil  and  ecclesiastical  peace. 
Hence  he  was  frequently  consulted  on  these  subjects, 
not  only  by  ministers,  but  by  the  higher  powers.  On 
various  occasions  he  went  to  London,  and  it  would 
seem  chiefly  on  business  relating  both  to  the  church 
and  the  nation.  Early  in  April,  1060,  he  left  Kidder- 
minster, and  reached  London  on  the  13th  of  that 
month.  The  reason  of  his  leaving  is  not  stated,  but  it 
appears  evidently  to  have  been  in  connexion  with  the 
state  of  public  affairs. 

It  was  a  saying  of  Baxter's,  that  we  are  "  no  more 
choosers  of  our  employments  than  of  our  successes." 
The  truth  of  this  observation  he  was  now  especially 
railed  to  verify  by  his  own  experience.  On  reaching 
London  he  was  consulted  on  the  subject  of  the  (king's) 
"  Restoration."  This  event  he,  in  common  with  multi- 
tudes of  his  brethren,  was  desirous  of  seeing  accom-" 
plished. 

The  new  parliament  appointed  a  day  of  fasting  and 
prayer,  and  required  Baxter  to  preach  before  them  on 
the  occasion.  This  occurred  the  day  before  the  bill 
was  passed  for  the  return  of  the  exiled  monarch. 
Shortly  after  he  was  called  to  preach  a  thanksgiving 
sermon,  on  Monk's  success,  at  St.  Paul's,  before  the 
lord  mayor  and  aldermen.  Neither  of  the  sermons  ap- 
pear to  have  given  entire  satisfaction.  His  moderate 
views  displeased  partizans  of  all  sides  :  some  charged 
him  with  sedition ;  others  with  vacillation  and  tempo- 
rizing in  politics.  He  was,  however,  a  friend  to  the 
king,  and  rejoiced  in  the  prospect  of  his  restoration. 
He  used  all  his  efforts  to  promote  its  accomplishment. 

When  king  Charles  was  restored,  amid  the  general 
acclamations  of  the  nation,  several  of  the  Presbyterian 
ministers  were  made  chaplains  in  ordinary  to  him, 

L.  B.  6 


62 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


Among  whom  was  Baxter.  His  certificate  of  appoint- 
ment to  the  office  is  dated  June  26,  1660.  Various  con- 
ferences were  held  b}-  Baxter  and  his  friends,  to  pro- 
mote a  union  between  episcopacy  and  presbyterianisni. 
A  meeting  was  held  on  the  subject,  in  the  presence  of 
Charles,  at  which  Baxter  was  the  chief  speaker.  His 
address  on  the  occasion  is  distinguished  alike  by  its 
piety  and  fidelity.  He  was  desirous  of  promoting  and 
securing  tlie  religious  liberties  of  the  people,  and  of 
preventing  those  measures  which  he  perceived  were 
contemplated  to  remove  many  of  the  most  holy  and 
zealous  preachers  from  their  flocks.  The  following 
passage  from  his  address  to  the  king  shows  the  efforts 
that  had  been  made  to  preserve  the  Gospel  ministry 
during  the  commonwealth,  and  his  desire  that,  under 
the  dominion  of  their  rightful  monarch,  the  same  in- 
valuable privilege  might  be  preserved. 

I  presumed  to  tell  him  (iiis  majesty)  that  the  peo- 
ple we  spake  for  were  such  as  were  contented  with  an 
interest  in  heaven,  and  the  liberty  and  advantages  of  the 
Gospel  to  promote  it;  and  if  this  were  taken  from  them, 
and  they  were  deprived  of  their  faithful  pastors,  and 
liberty  of  worshipping  God,  they  would  consider  them- 
selves undone  in  this  world,  whatever  plenty  else  they 
should  enjoy ;  and  the  hearts  of  his  most  faithful  sub- 
jects, who  hoped  for  his  help,  would  even  be  broken; 
and  that  we  doubted  not  but  his  majesty  desired  to 
govern  a  people  made  happy  by  him,  and  not  a  broken- 
hearted people,  that  considered  themselves  undone  by 
the  loss  of  that  which  is  dearer  to  them  than  all  the 
riches  of  the  world.  And  I  presumed  to  tell  him  that 
the  late  usurpers  that  were  over  us,  so  well  understood 
their  own  interest,  that,  to  promote  it,  they  had  found 
this  way  of  doing  good  to  be  the  most  effectual  means, 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


63 


and  had  placed  and  encouraged  many  thousand  faith- 
ful ministers  in  the  church,  even  such  as  detested 
their  usurpation.  And  so  far  liad  they  attained  their 
ends  hereby,  that  it  was  the  principal  means  of  their 
interest  in  the  people,  and  the  good  opinion  that  any 
had  conceived  of  them ;  and  those  of  them  that  had 
taken  the  contrary  course,  had  thereby  broken  them- 
selves to  pieces.  Wherefore  I  humbly  craved  his  ma- 
jesty's patience  that  we  might  have  the  freedom  to  re- 
quest of  him  that,  as  he  was  our  lawful  king,  in  whom 
all  his  people,  save  a  few  inconsiderable  persons,  were 
prepared  to  centre,  as  weary  of  their  divisions,  and 
glad  of  the  satisfactory  means  of  union  in  him,  so  he 
would  be  pleased  to  undertake  this  blessed  work  of 
promoting  their  holiness  and  concord  ;  for  it  was  not 
faction  or  disobedience  which  we  desired  him  to  in- 
dulge. And  that  he  would  never  suffer  himself  to  be 
tempted  to  undo  the  good  which  Cromwell  or  any 
other  had  done,  because  they  were  usurpers  that  did 
it ;  or  discountenance  a  faithful  ministry  because  his 
enemies  had  set  them  up.  But  that  he  would  rather 
outgo  them  in  doing  good,  and  opposing  and  rejecting 
the  ignorant  and  ungodly,  of  what  opinion  or  party 
soever.  For  the  people  w^hose  cause  we  recommended 
to  him,  had  their  eyes  on  him  as  the  officer  of  God, 
10  defend  them  in  the  possession  of  the  helps  of  their 
salvation  ;  which,  if  he  were  pleased  to  vouchsafe 
ihem,  their  estates  and  lives  would  be  cheerfully  of- 
fered to  his  service." 

"  The  king  gave  us  not  only  a  free  audience,  but  as 
gracious  an  answer  as  we  could  expect ;  professing  his 
gladness  to  hear  our  inclinations  to  agreement,  and  his 
resolution  to  do  his  part  to  bring  us  together;  and  that 
it  must  not  be  by  bringing  one  party  over  to  the  other, 


64 


LIFE  OF  BAXTER. 


but  by  abating  somewhat  on  both  sides,  and  meeting 
in  the  midway  ;  and  that,  if  it  were  not  accomplished, 
it  should  be  of  ourselves,  and  not  of  him  :  nay,  that  he 
was  resolved  to  see  it  brought  to  pass,  and  that  he 
would  draw  us  together  himself:  with  some  more  to 
this  purpose.  Insomuch  that  old  Mr.  Ash  burst  out 
into  tears  with  joy,  and  could  not  forbear  expressing 
what  gladness  this  promise  of  his  majesty  had  put  into 
his  heart." 

Proposals  of  agreement  were  submitted  to  the  king 
and  his  advisers,  but  without  effect.  Subsequently  to 
this,  Baxter  was  offered  a  bishopric  by  the  lord  chan- 
cellor; but  this,  for  various  reasons,  he  declined.  He 
did  not  consider  it  "  as  a  thing  unlawful  in  itself," 
but  he  thought  he  "could  better  serve  the  church 
without  it."  In  the  letter  in  which  he  declines  epis- 
copal honors,  he  begs  of  the  lord  chancellor  that  he 
might  be  allowed  to  preach  to  his  old  charge  at  Kid- 
derminster. He  says : 

"When  I  had  refused  a  bishopric,  I  did  it  on  such 
reasons  as  offended  not  the  lord  chancellor;  and  there- 
fore, instead  of  it,  I  presumed  to  crave  his  favor  to  re- 
store me  to  preach  to  my  people  at  Kidderminster 
again,  from  whence  I  had  been  cast  out,  when  many 
hundreds  of  others  were  ejected  upon  the  restoration 
of  all  them  that  had  been  sequestered.  It  was  but  a 
vicarage ;  and  the  vicar  was  a  poor,  unlearned,  igno- 
rant, silly  reader,  that  little  understood  what  Chris- 
tianity and  the  articles  of  his  creed  did  signify :  but 
once  a  quarter  he  said  something  which  he  called  a 
sermon,  which  made  him  the  pity  or  laughter  of  the 
people.  This  man,  being  unable  to  preach  himself, 
kept  always  a  curate  under  him  to  preach.  Before  the 
wars,  I  had  preached  there  only  as  a  lecturer?  and  he 

f 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


65 


was  bound  in  a  bond  of  £500  to  pay  me  X60  per 
annum,  and  afterwards  he  was  sequestered,  as  is  be- 
fore sufficiently  declared.  My  people  were  so  dear  to 
me,  and  I  to  them,  that  I  would  have  been  with  them 
upon  the  lowest  lawful  terms.  Some  laughed  at  me 
for  refusing  a  bishopric,  and  petitioning  to  be  a  read- 
ing vicar's  curate.  But  I  had  little  hopes  of  so  good  a 
condition,  at  least  for  any  considerable  time." 

His  application,  however,  proved  unsuccessful ;  for 
arrangements  could  not  be  made  between  the  patron 
and  the  chancellor  respecting  the  removal  of  the  old 
vicar,  who  retained  the  charge  of  four  thousand  souls, 
though  utterly  incompetent  for  his  important  duties, 
and  Baxter  was  left  without  a  charge. 

Though  not  permitted  to  return  to  his  charge,  he 
nevertheless  exerted  himself  in  various  ways  to  pro- 
mote the  glory  of  God  and  the  good  of  souls.  His  at- 
tention was,  at  this  period,  drawn  to  the  subject  of 
missions  among  the  North  American  Indians.  Eliot, 
the  "  Apostle  of  the  Indians,"  and  his  assistants,  had 
effected  much  good  among  the  roving  tribes  of  Ame- 
rica. Cromwell  had  entered  warmly  into  tlie  cause, 
and  ordered  collections  to  be  made  in  every  parish 
for  the  propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  those  regions. 
Funds  were  raised,  a  society  was  formed  and  incor- 
porated, and  much  good  was  effected.  At  the  "  Resto- 
ration," some  parties,  inimical  to  the  truth,  endeavor- 
ed to  destroy  the  institution,  and  to  appropriate  the 
funds  to  other  objects.  Baxter,  assisted  by  others,  ex- 
erted himself  to  prevent  this  spoliation;  and  by  his 
influence  at  court,  succeeded  in  securing  the  property, 
and  in  restoring  the  society  to  its  original  design. 

For  his  exertions  he  received  a  letter  of  thanks  from 
the  Governor  of  New  England,  and  another  from  the 
L.  B.  6* 


66 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER, 


venerable  Eliot.  The  latter  informs  Baxter  of  his  in- 
tention to  translate  the  "  Call  to  the  Unconverted"  in- 
to the  Indian  language,  but  waited  for  his  permission, 
his  counsel,  and  his  prayers.  To  this  letter  Baxter  re- 
pHed.  A  few  extracts  from  his  reply  will  show  the  in- 
terest that  both  he  and  many  others  felt  in  the  cause 
of  missions  in  those  troublous  times. 

"  Reverend  and  much  honored  brother, — Though 
our  sins  have  separated  us  from  the  people  of  our  love 
and  care,  and  deprived  us  of  all  public  liberty  of  preach- 
ing the  Gospel  of  our  Lord,  I  greatly  rejoice  in  the 
liberty,  help,  and  success  which  Christ  has  so  long 
vouchsafed  you  in  his  work.  There  is  no  man  on  earth 
whose  work  I  think  more  honorable  than  yours.  To 
propagate  the  Gospel  and  kingdom  of  Christ  in  those 
dark  parts  of  the  world,  is  a  better  work  than  our  ha- 
ting and  devouring  one  another.  There  are  many  here 
that  would  be  ambitious  of  being  your  fellow-laborers, 
but  that  they  are  informed  you  have  access  to  no 
greater  a  number  of  the  Indians  than  you  yourself  and 
your  present  assistants  are  able  to  instruct.  An  hono- 
rable gentleman,  Mr.  Robert  Boyle,  the  governor  of  the 
corporation  for  your  work,  a  man  of  great  learning  and 
worth,  and  of  a  very  public  universal  mind,  did  motion 
to  me  a  public  collection,  in  all  our  churches,  for  the 
maintaining  of  such  ministers  as  are  willing  to  go 
hence  to  you,  while  they  are  learning  the  Indian  lan- 
guages and  laboring  in  the  work,  as  also  to  transport 
them.  But  I  find  those  backward  that  I  have  spoken 
to  about  it,  partly  suspecting  it  a  design  of  those  that 
\vould  be  rid  of  them ;  (but  if  it  would  promote  the 
work  of  God,  this  objection  were  too  carnal  to  be  re- 
garded by  good  men ;)  partly  fearing  that,  when  the 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


67 


money  is  gathered,  the  work  may  be  frustrated  by  the 
alienation  of  it,  but  this  I  think  they  need  not  fear  so 
far  as  to  hinder  any  ;  partly  because  they  think  there 
will  be  nothing  considerable  gathered,  because  the  peo- 
ple tliat  are  unwillingly  divorced  from  their  teachers 
will  give  nothing  to  send  them  farther  from  them,  but 
specially  because  they  thhik,  on  the  aforesaid  grounds, 
that  there  is  no  work  for  them  to  do  if  they  were  with 
you.  There  are  many  here,  I  conjecture,  that  would 
be  glad  logo  any  where,  to  Persians,  Tartars,  Indians, 
or  any  unbelieving  nation,  to  propagate  the  Gospel, 
if  they  thought  they  could  be  serviceable  ;  but  the  de- 
fect of  their  languages  is  their  great  discouragement. 
The  industry  of  the  Jesuits  and  friars,  and  their  suc- 
cesses in  Congo,  Japan,  China,  &c.  shame  us  all,  save 
you.  I  should  be  glad  to  learn  from  you  how  far  your 
Indian  tongue  extends;  how  large  or  populous  the 
country  is  tliat  uses  it,  if  it  be  known  ;  and  whether  it 
reach  only  to  a  few  scattered  neighbors,  who  cannot 
themselves  convey  their  knowledge  far  because  of 
other  languages.  We  very  much  rejoice  in  your  hap- 
py work,  the  translation  of  the  Bible,  and  bless  God 
that  hath  strengthened  you  to  finish  it.  If  any  thing 
of  mine  may  be  honored  to  contribute  in  the  least 
measure  to  your  blessed  work,  I  shall  have  great  cause 
to  be  thankful  to  God,  and  wholly  submit  the  altera- 
tion and  use  of  it  to  your  wisdom." 

The  state  of  the  heathen  appears  to  have  occupied 
the  thoughts  of  Baxter  through  the  whole  course  of 
his  ministry.  Numerous  allusions  and  references  to 
the  subject  are  found  in  his  writings.  In  the  preface 
to  his  work  entitled  the  "  Reasons  of  the  Cliristian 
Religion,"  he  states  that  his  desire  to  promote  "  the 
conversion  of  idolaters  and  infidels  to  God  and  the 


68 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


Christian  faith,"  was  one  of  the  reasons  which  prompt 
ed  him  to  write  that  work.  "  The  doleful  thought  that 
five  parts  of  the  world  were  still  heathens  and  Moham- 
medans, and  that  Christian  princes  and  preachers  did 
no  more  for  their  recovery,"  awakened  the  most  pain- 
ful anxiety  and  distress  in  his  mind.  In  his  work,  "How 
to  do  Good  to  Many,"  &c.  he  asks,  "  Is  it  not  possible, 
at  least,  to  help  the  poor  ignorant  Armenians,  Greeks, 
Muscovites,  and  other  Christians,  who  have  no  print- 
ing imong  them,  nor  much  preaching  and  knowledge ; 
ana  for  want  of  printing,  have  very  few  Bibles,  even 
for  their  churches  or  ministers?  Could  nothing  be 
done  to  get  some  Bibles,  catechisms,  and  practical 
books  printed  in  their  own  tongues,  and  given  among 
them?  I  know  there  is  difficulty  in  the  way;  but 
money,  and  willingness,  and  diligence,  might  do  some- 
th;ng.  Might  not  something  be  done  in  other  planta- 
tions, as  well  as  in  New-England,  towards  the  conver- 
sion of  the  natives  there?  IMight  not  some  skillful, 
zealous  preachers  be  sent  thither,  who  would  promote 
serious  piety  among  those  of  the  English  that  have  too 
little  of  it,  teach  the  natives  the  Gospel,  and  our  plant- 
ers how  to  behave  themselves  so  as  to  win  souls  to 
Christ?" 

How  powerfully  affecting,  and  yet  how  truly  appli- 
cable, even  at  the  present  hour,  is  the  following  pas- 
sage, contained  in  his  life! — "It  would  make  a  believ- 
er's heart  bleed,  if  any  thing  in  the  world  will  do  it, 
to  think  that  five  parts  in  six  of  the  world  are  still 
heathens,  Mohammedans,  and  infidels,  and  that  the 
wicked  lives  of  Christians,  with  fopperies,  ignorance, 
and  divisions,  form  the  great  impediment  to  their  con- 
version !  to  read  and  hear  travelers  and  merchants 
tell  that  the  Banians,  and  other  heathens  in  Hindostan, 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


69 


Cambaia,  and  many  other  lands,  and  tlie  Mohamme- 
dans adjoining  to  the  Greeks,  and  the  Abyssinians, 
tK;c.  do  commonly  fly  from  Christianity,  and  say,  'God 
will  not  save  us  if  we  be  Christians,  for  Christians  are 
drunkards,  and  proud,  and  deceivers,'  &c.  and  that 
the  Mohammedans  and  many  heathens  have  more, 
both  of  devotion  and  honesty,  than  nominal  Christians 
that  live  among  them !  O  wretched  men,  calling  them- 
tselves  after  the  name  of  Christ !  that  are  not  content 
to  damn  themselves,  but  thus  lay  stumbling-blocks 
before  the  world !  It  were  better  for  these  men  that 
they  had  never  been  born ! 

At  the  close  of  his  life,  and  on  the  near  approach  of 
eternity,  his  mind  was  deeply  interested  on  this  im- 
portant subject.  The  unbounded  benevolence  of  his 
heart  is  poured  forth  in  the  following  extract  from  his 
solemn  review  of  his  own  character,  made  in  his  last 
days : 

"  My  soul  is  much  more  afflicted  with  the  thoughts 
of  the  miserable  world,  and  more  drawn  out  in  desire 
of  their  conversion,  than  heretofore.  I  was  wont  to 
look  but  little  farther  than  England  in  my  prayers,  as 
not  considering  the  state  of  the  rest  of  the  w^orld  :  or, 
if  I  prayed  for  the  conversion  of  the  Jews,  that  was 
almost  all.  But  now.  as  I  better  understand  the  case 
of  the  world,  and  the  method  of  the  Lord's  prayer,  so 
there  is  nothing  that  lies  so  heavy  upon  my  heart  as 
the  thought  of  the  miserable  nations  of  the  earth.  It 
is  the  most  astonishing  part  of  all  God's  providence 
to  me,  that  he  so  far  forsakes  almost  all  the  world,  and 
confines  his  special  favor  to  so  few;  that  so  small  a 
part  of  the  world  has  the  profession  of  Christianity, 
m  comparison  of  heathens,  Mohammedans,  and  infi- 
cels !  and  that,  among  professed  Christians,  there  are 


70 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


SO  few  that  are  saved  from  gross  delusions,  and  have 
any  competent  knowledge ;  and  that  among  those 
there  are  so  few  that  are  seriously  religious,  and  truly 
set  their  hearts  on  heaven.  I  cannot  be  affected  so 
much  with  the  calamities  of  my  own  relations,  or  of 
the  land  of  my  nativity,  as  v/iih  the  case  of  the  hea- 
then, Mohammedan,  and  ignorant  nations  of  the  earth. 
No  part  of  ray  prayers  is  so  deeply  serious  as  that  for 
the  conversion  of  the  infidel  and  ungodly  world,  that 
God's  name  may  be  sanctified,  and  his  kingdom  come, 
and  his  will  be  done  on  earth,  as  it  is  in  heaven.  Nor 
was  I  ever  before  so  sensible  what  a  plague  the  divi- 
sion of  languages  was,  which  hinders  our  speaking  to 
them  for  their  conversion  ;  nor  what  a  great  sin  ty- 
ranny is,  which  keeps  out  the  Gospel  from  most  of 
ihe  nations  of  the  world.  Could  we  but  go  among 
Tartars,  Turks,  and  heathens,  and  speak  their  lan- 
guage, I  should  be  but  little  troubled  for  the  silencing 
of  eighteen  hundred  ministers  at  once  in  England,  nor 
for  all  the  rest  that  v.  ere  cast  out  here,  and  in  Scot- 
land and  Ireland.  There  being  no  employment  in  the 
world  so  desirable  in  my  eyes,  as  to  labor  for  the  win- 
ning of  such  miserable  souls,  which  makes  me  greath- 
honor  Mr.  John  Eliot,  the  apostle  of  the  Indians  in 
New-England,  and  whoever  else  have  labored  in  sucli 
work." 

Baxter  almost  despaired  of  the  conversion  of  the 
world.  The  obstacles  to  missionary  enterprise  were 
at  that  time  insurmountable.  He  that  surveys  the 
present  state  of  the  earth."  writes  Baxter  to  his  friend 
Eliot,  "  and  considers  that  scarcely  a  sixth  part  is 
Christian,  and  how  small  a  part  of  them  have  murh 
of  the  power  of  godliness,  will  be  ready  to  think  that 
Christ  has  called  almost  all  his  chosen,  and  is  ready 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


71 


to  forsake  the  earth,  rather  than  that  he  intends  us 
sucli  blessed  days  as  we  desire."  But  "what  hath 
God  wrought How  great  the  change  in  the  state  of 
reUgion,  both  at  home  and  abroad,  since  the  days  of 
Baxter!  Persecution  has  fled;  religion  has  revived; 
the  missionary  spirit  has  been  enkindled;  prayer  has 
been  offered  ;  money  has  been  contributed  ;  commerce 
lias  presented  facilities  for  introducing  the  Gospel  into 
all  parts  of  the  earth ;  wide  and  effectual  doors  have 
been  opened  ;  missionaries  have  gone  forth  to  the  help 
of  the  Lord  against  the  mighty,  and  great  success  has 
attended  their  labors :  so  that  we  are  evidently  ap- 
proaching nearer  to  the  period  when  the  proclamation 
shall  be  made,  "  The  kingdoms  of  this  world  are  be- 
come the  kingdoms  of  our  Lord,  and  of  his  Christ; 
and  he  shall  reign  for  ever  and  ever." 

About  this  period  the  celebrated  "  Savoy  Confer- 
ence" was  held.  The  object  was  to  effect  a  reconcilia- 
tion between  the  different  religious  parties,  that  they 
might  be  united  in  one  common  profession  of  Chris- 
tianity. At  this  conference  Baxter  took  a  prominent 
part.  He  was  sincerely  desirous  for  the  peace  of  the 
church,  and  that  an  accommodation  should  ensue. 
For  this  purpose  he  submitted  various  propositions, 
but  without  effect :  and,  after  some  weeks'  delibera- 
tion, the  conference  was  broken  up,  without  the  least 
hope  or  possibility,  under  existing  circumstances,  of 
reconciliation.  Baxter  was  charged  by  his  antagonists 
with  "  speaking  too  boldly,  and  too  long  ;"  but  this  he 
accounted  not  a  crime,  but  a  virtue.  "  I  thought  it," 
says  he,  "  a  cause  I  could  cheerfully  suffer  for ;  and 
should  as  willingly  be  a  martyr  for  charity  as  for  faith." 

This  was  the  last  public  and  authorized  attempt  to 
promote  peace  and  unity  by  argument  and  persuasion. 


72 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


Thenceforward  other  measures  were  tried  to  effect  so 
desirable  an  object,  and,  most  unhappily,  the  diver- 
gence of  the  parlies  became  greater  than  ever. 

From  the  termination  of  the  ''Savoy  ConferencCj" 
the  case  of  the  dissidents  became  more  trying  and  per- 
plexing. They  were  calumniated  and  charged  with 
preaching  sedition,  or  with  forming  plots  against  the 
government.  Baxter,  whose  loyalty  was  unimpeach- 
able, and  whose  ruling  passion  was  a  desire  for  peace, 
whose  very  soul  was  love,  appears  to  have  been  parti- 
cularly marked  as  an  object  for  the  shafts  of  calumny. 
He  says :  "  So  vehement  was  the  endeavor  in  court, 
city,  and  country,  to  make  me  contemptible  and  odi- 
ous, as  if  the  authors  had  thought  that  the  safety  either 
of  church  or  state  did  lie  upon  it,  and  all  woiuM  have 
been  safe  if  I  were  but  vilified  and  hated.  So  that  any 
stranger  that  had  but  heard  and  seen  all  this,  would 
have  asked,  AVhat  monster  of  villany  is  this  man?  and 
what  is  the  wickedness  that  he  is  guilty  of?  Yet  was 
I  never  questioned  to  this  day  before  a  magistrate. 
Nor  do  my  adversaries  charge  me  with  any  personal 
wrong  to  them ;  nor  did  they  ever  accuse  me  of  any 
heresy,  nor  much  contemn  my  judgment,  nor  ever  ac- 
cuse my  life,  but  for  preaching  where  another  had  been 
sequestered  that  was  an  insufficient  reader,  and  for 
preaching  to  the  soldiers  of  the  parliament ;  though 
none  of  them  knew  my  business  there,  nor  the  service 
that  I  did  them.  These  are  all  the  crimes,  besides  my 
writings,  that  I  ever  knew  they  charged  my  life  with." 

"  Though  no  one  accused  me  of  any  thing,  nor  spake 
a  word  to  me  of  it,  being  (they  knew  I  had  long  been) 
near  a  hundred  miles  off,  yet  did  they  defame  me  all 
over  the  land,  as  guilty  of  a  plot ;  and  when  men  were 
taken  up  and  sent  to  prison,  in  other  countries,  it  wa» 


LIFE    OF  BAXTER. 


73 


said  to  be  for  Baxter's  plot :  so  easy  was  it,  and  so  ne- 
cessary a  thing  it  seemed  then,  to  cast  reproach  upon 
my  name." 

During  the  two  years  of  liis  residence  in  London, 
previous  to  his  final  ejectment,  Baxter  preached  in  va- 
rious places,  as  opportunities  presented  themselves. 

He  says :  "  Being  removed  from  my  ancient  flock 
in  Worcestershire,  and  yet  being  uncertain  whether  I 
might  return  to  them  or  not,  I  refused  to  take  any 
other  charge,  but  preached  up  and  down  London,  for 
nothing,  according  as  I  was  invited.  When  I  had  done 
thus  above  a  year,  I  thought  a  fixed  place  was  better, 
and  so  I  joined  with  Dr.  Bates,  at  St.  Dunstan's  in  the 
West,  in  Fleet-street,  and  preached  once  a  week,  for 
which  the  people  allowed  me  some  maintenance.  Be- 
fore this  time  I  scarcely  ever  preached  a  sermon  in 
the  city. 

"  The  congregations  being  crowded,  was  that  which 
provoked  envy  to  accuse  me ;  and  one  day  the  crowd 
drove  me  frpm  my  place.  In  the  midst  of  a  sermon  at 
Dunstan's  church,  a  little  lime  and  dust,  and  perhaps 
a  piece  of  a  brick  or  two,  fell  down  in  the  steeple  or 
belfry,  which  alarmed  the  congregation  with  the  idea 
that  the  steeple  and  church  were  falling ;  and  indeed, 
in  their  confusion  and  haste  to  get  away,  the  noise  of 
the  feet  in  the  galleries  sounded  like  the  falling  of  the 
stones.  I  sat  still  in  the  pulpit,  seeing  and  pitying  their 
terror ;  and,  as  soon  as  I  could  be  heard,  I  entreated 
their  silence,  and  went  on.  The  people  were  no  sooner 
quieted,  and  got  in  again,  and  the  auditory  composed, 
but  a  wainscot  bench,  near  the  communion-table,  broke 
with  the  weight  of  those  who  stood  upon  it;  the  ncis" 
renewed  the  fear,  and  they  were  worse  disordered  ihar. 
before ;  so  that  one  old  woman  was  heard,  at  the  churcu 

L.   B.  7 


74 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


door,  asking  forgiveness  of  God  for  not  taking  the  f^rsi 
warning,  aiid  promising,  if  God  would  deliver  her  tins 
once,  she  would  take  heed  of  coming  thither  again. 
When  they  were  again  quieted  I  went  on.  But  ine 
church  having  before  an  ill  name,  as  very  old,  ana  »  ol- 
ten,  and  dangerous,  it  was  agreed  to  puii  do\vn  all  the 
roof  and  repair  the  building,  which  is  now  much  more 
commodious. 

While  these  repairs  were  made  I  preached  out  my 
quarter  at  Bride's  church,  in  the  other  end  of  Fleet- 
street  ;  where  the  common  prayer  being  used  by  tlie 
curate  before  sermon,  I  occasioned  abundance  to  be 
at  common  prayer,  who  before  avoided  it.  And  yet 
accusations  against  me  still  continued. 

"  On  the  week  days,  Mr.  Ashurst,  with  about  twenty 
more  citizens,  desired  me  to  preach  a  lecture  in  Milk- 
street,  for  which  they  allowed  me  forty  pounds  per  an- 
num, which  I  continued  near  a  year,  till  we  were  all 
silenced.  And  at  the  same  time  I  preached  once  every 
Lord's  day  at  Blackfriars,  where  Mr.  Gibbons,  a  judi- 
cious man,  was  minister.  In  ]Milk-street  I  took  money, 
because  it  came  not  from  the  parishioners,  but  stran- 
gers, and  so  was  no  \\Toiig  to  the  minister,  3Ir.  Vincent, 
a  very  holy,  blameless  man.  But  at  Blackfriars  I  never 
look  a  penn}'^,  because  it  was  the  parishioners  wlio 
called  me,  who  would  else  be  less  able  and  ready  to 
help  their  worthy  pastor,  who  went  to  God  by  a  con- 
sumption, a  little  after  he  was  silenced.  At  these  two 
churches  I  ended  the  course  of  my  public  ministry, 
unless  God  cause  an  undeserved  resurrection." 

"  Shortly  after  our  disputation  at  the  Savoy,  I  went 
to  Rickmansworth,  in  Hertfordshire,  and  preached 
there  but  once,  upon  Malt.  22 : 12,  '  And  he  was  speech- 
less ;'  where  I  spake  not  a  word  that  was  any  nearer 


LIFE  OF  BAXTER. 


75 


kin  to  sedition,  or  that  had  any  greater  tendency  to 
provoke  them,  than  by  showing  '  that  wicked  men, 
and  the  refusers  of  grace,  however  tliey  may  now  have 
many  things  to  say  to  excuse  their  sins,  will  at  last  be 
speechless  before  God."  Yet  did  the  bishop  of  Wor- 
cester tell  me,  when  he  silenced  me,  that  the  bishop 
of  London  had  showed  him  letters  from  one  of  the 
liearers,  assuring  him  tliat  I  preached  seditiously  :  so 
little  security  was  any  man's  innocency  to  his  reputa- 
tion, if  he  had  but  one  auditor  that  desired  to  get  fa- 
vor by  accusing  him. 

"  Shortly  after  my  return  to  London  I  went  mto 
Worcestershire,  to  try  whether  it  were  possible  to  have 
any  honest  terms  from  the  reading  vicar  there,  that  I 
might  preach  to  my  former  flock;  but  when  I  had 
preached  twice  or  thrice,  he  denied  me  liberty  to  preach 
any  more.  I  offered  him  to  take  my  lecture,  which  he 
was  bound  to  allow  me,  under  a  bond  of  five  hundred 
pounds,  but  he  refused  it.  I  next  offered  him  to  be  his 
curate,  and  he  refused  it.  I  next  offered  him  to  preach 
for  nothing,  and  he  refused  it.  And  lastly,  I  desired 
leave  but  once  to  administer  the  Lord's  supper  to  the 
people,  and  preach  my  farewell  sermon  to  ihem,  but 
he  would  not  consent.  At  last  I  understood  that  he  was 
directed  by  his  superiors  to  do  what  he  did.  But  Mr. 
Baldwin,  an  able  preacher  whom  I  left  there,  was  yet 
permitted. 

"At  that  time,  my  aged  father  lying  in  great  pain 
of  the  stone  and  strangury,  I  went  to  visit  him,  twen- 
ty miles  further.  And  while  I  was  there  Mr.  Baldwin 
came  to  me,  and  told  me  that  he  also  was  forbidden  to 
preach.  We  both  returned  to  Kidderminster." 

"  Having  parted  with  my  dear  flock,  I  need  not  say 
with  mutual  tears,  I  left  Mr.  Baldwin  to  live  privately 


76 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


among  them,  and  oversee  them  in  my  stead,  and 
them  from  house  to  house ;  advising  them,  notwith- 
standing all  the  injuries  they  had  received,  and  all  the 
failings  of  the  ministers  that  preached  to  them,  and 
the  defects  of  the  present  way  of  worship,  that  yet  they 
should  keep  to  the  public  assemblies,  and  make  use  of 
sucli  helps  as  might  be  had  in  public,  togethei  with 
their  private  helps.-' 

The  great  crisis,  which  was  foreseen  by  many,  had 
now  arrived.  The  parliamentary  attempt  to  promote 
ecclesiastical  peace,  by  the  "  Act  of  Uniformity,"  de- 
manding an  oath  of  absolute  subjection  to  every  requi- 
sition of  the  church,  ended  hi  the  ejectment  of  two 
thousand  of  the  best  and  holiest  ministers  in  the  land 
from  their  livings  and  labors.  Baxter  determined  on 
not  taking  the  oath,  and  hence  relinquished  public 
preaching  as  soon  as  the  act  was  passed,  and  before  it 
came  into  operation.  His  reason  for  so  doing,  he  states 
to  be,  that  as  his  example  was  looked  to  by  many 
throughout  the  country,  it  might  be  known  that  he 
could  not  conform. 

In  the  earlier  period  of  his  ministry  Baxter  had  re- 
solved not  to  enter  into  the  married  state,  that  he  might 
pursue  his  pastoral  and  ministerial  labors  with  less 
anxiety  and  interruption.  After  his  ejectment,  how- 
ever, having  no  public  charge,  and  seeing  little  pros- 
pect of  ever  being  able  to  resume  his  ministerial  en- 
gagements, he  deemed  himself  at  liberty,  and  that  it 
would  conduce  to  his  comfort,  to  be  united  in  the  bonds 
of  matrimony.  He  married  Miss  Charlton,  a  lady  whc, 
though  much  younger  than  himself,  proved  to  be  in 
every  respect  a  suitable  partner  for  this  eminent  saint. 

His  marriage  excited  much  curiosity  and  remark 
throughout  the  kingdom ;  and  "  I  think,"  he  observes, 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


77 


"  the  king's  marriage  was  scarce  more  talked  of  than 
mine."  He  and  his  wife  lived  a  very  unsettled  life ; 
being  obliged,  on  account  of  persecutions,  frequently 
to  remove  from  one  place  of  residence  to  another. 

He  says :  "  Having  lived  three  years  and  more  in 
London  since  I  left  Kidderminster,  but  only  three 
quarters  of  a  year  since  my  marriage,  and  finding  it 
neither  agree  with  my  health  or  studies,  the  one  being 
brought  very  low,  and  the  other  interrupted,  and  all 
public  service  being  at  an  end,  I  betook  myself  to  live 
in  the  country,  at  Acton,  that  I  might  set  myself  to 
writing,  and  do  what  service  I  could  for  posterity,  and 
live,  as  much  as  possibly  I  could,  out  of  the  world. 
Thither  I  came,  1663,  July  14,  where  I  followed  my 
studies  privately  in  quietness,  and  went  every  Lord's 
-day  to  the  public  assembly,  when  there  was  any  preach- 
ing or  catechising,  and  spent  the  rest  of  the  day  with 
my  family,  and  a  few  poor  neighbors  that  came  in ; 
spending  now  and  then  a  day  in  London.  And  the 
next  year,  1664,  I  had  the  company  of  divers  godly 
faithful  friends  that  tabled  with  me  in  summer,  with 
whom  I  solaced  myself  with  much  content." 

"  On  March  26,  being  the  Lord's  day,  1665,  as  I  was 
preaching  in  a  private  house,  where  we  received  the 
Lord's  supper,  a  buHet  came  in  at  the  window  among 
us,  an'!  passed  by  me,  and  narrowly  missed  the  head 
of  a  sister-in-law  of  mine  that  was  there,  and  hurt 
none  of  us ;  and  we  could  never  discover  whence  it 
came. 

"In  June  following,  an  ancient  gentlewoman,  with 
her  sons  and  daughter,  came  four  miles  in  her  coach, 
to  hear  me  preach  in  my  family,  as  out  of  special  re- 
spect to  me.  It  happened  that,  contrary  to  our  cus- 
lom,  we  let  her  knock  long  at  the  door,  and  did  not 


78 


LIFE  OF  BAXTER. 


open  it;  and  so  a  second  time,  when  she  had  gone 
dway  and  came  again;  and  the  third  time  she  came, 
we  had  ended.  She  M'as  so  earnest  to  know  when  she 
might  come  again  to  hear  me,  that  I  appointed  her  a 
time.  But  before  she  came,  I  had  secret  intelligence, 
from  one  that  was  nigh  her,  that  she  came  with  a 
heart  exceeding  full  of  malice,  resolving,  if  possible, 
to  do  me  what  mischief  she  could  by  accusation ;  and 
50  that  danger  was  avoided." 

The  -'plague  of  London-'  now  burst  forth  with  tre- 
mendous fury,  on  which  Baxter  thus  remarks: 

"  And  now,  after  all  the  breaches  on  the  churches, 
the  ejection  of  the  ministers,  and  impenitency  under 
all,  wars,  and  plague,  and  danger  of  famine  began  all 
at  once  on  us.  War  with  the  Hollanders,  which  yet 
continues ;  and  the  driest  winter,  spring,  and  summer 
that  ever  man  alive  knew,  or  our  forefathers  men- 
tion of  late  ages;  so  that  the  grounds  were  burnt,  like 
the  highways,  where  the  caiile  should  have  fed  !  The 
meadow  grounds,  where  I  lived,  bare  but  four  loads  of 
liay,  which  before  bare  forty.  The  plague  has  seized 
on  the  most  famous  and  most  excellent  city  in  Chris- 
tendom, and  at  this  time  eight  thousand  die  of  all 
diseases  in  a  week.  It  has  scattered  and  consumed 
the  inhabitants,  multitudes  being  dead  and  fled.  The 
calamities  and  cries  of  the  diseased  and  impoverished 
are  not  to  be  conceived  by  those  that  are  absent  from 
them  I  Every  man  is  a  terror  to  his  neighbor  and  him- 
self ;  for  God,  for  our  sins,  is  a  terror  to  us  all.  0  !  how 
is  London,  the  place  which  God  has  honored  with  his 
Gospel  above  all  the  places  of  the  earth,  laid  in  low 
horrors,  and  wasted  almost  to  desolation  by  the  wrath 
of  God,  whom  England  hath  contemned  ;  and  a  God- 
hating  generation  are  consumed  in  their  sins,  and  the 


LIFE  OF  BAXTER. 


79 


righteous  are  also  taken  away,  as  from  greater  evu  yet 
to  come." 

"  The  number  that  died  in  London  alone  was  about 
a  hundred  thousand.  The  richer  sort  removing  out  of 
the  city,  the  greatest  blow  fell  on  the  poor.  At  first,  so 
few  of  the  most  religious  were  taken  away,  that,  ac- 
cording to  the  mode  of  too  many  such,  they  began  to 
be  puffed  up,  and  boast  of  the  great  difference  which 
God  made ;  but  quickly  after,  they  all  fell  alike.  Yet 
not  many  pious  ministers  were  taken  away  :  I  remem- 
ber but  three,  who  were  all  of  my  own  acquaintance. 

"  It  is  scarcely  possible  for  people  that  live  in  a  time 
of  health  and  security,  to  apprehend  the  dreadfulness 
of  that  pestilence  !  How  fearful  people  were,  thirty 
or  forty,  if  not  a  hundred  miles  from  London,  of  any 
thing  that  they  bought  from  any  mercer's  or  draper's 
shop  !  or  of  any  goods  that  were  brought  to  them  !  or 
of  any  person  that  came  to  their  houses  !  How  they 
would  shut  their  doors  against  their  friends  !  and  if  a 
man  passed  over  the  fields,  how  one  would  avoid  an- 
other, as  we  did  in  the  time  of  wars  ;  and  how  every 
man  was  a  terror  to  another !  O  how  sinfully  un- 
thankful are  we  for  our  quiet  societies,  habitations, 
and  health  !" 

Many  of  the  ejected  ministers  seized  the  opportunity 
of  preaching  in  the  neglected  or  deserted  pulpits,  and 
in  the  public  places  of  resort,  to  the  terror-stricken  in- 
habitants of  London,  and  blessed  results  followed. 
"  Those  heard  them  one  day  often,  that  were  sick  the 
next,  and  quickly  died.  The  face  of  death  so  awakened 
both  preachers  and  hearers,  that  preachers  exceeded 
themselves  in  fervent  preaching,  and  the  people  crowd- 
ed constantly  to  hear  them ;  and  all  was  done  witii 
such  great  seriousness  that,  through  the  blessing  of 


80 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


God,  many  were  converted  from  their  carelessness, 
impenitency,  and  j'outhful  lusts  and  vanities  ;  and  re- 
ligion took  such  a  hold  on  the  people's  hearts  as  could 
never  afterwards  be  loosed." 

AVhen  the  plague  reached  Acton,  in  July,  Mr.  Bax- 
ter retired  to  Hampden,  in  Bucks,  where  he  continued 
with  his  friend  Mr.  Hampden  till  the  following  March. 
The  plague,  he  says,  '*  having  ceased  on  March  1st  fol- 
lowing, I  returned  home,  and  found  the  churchyard 
like  a  ploughed  field  with  graves,  and  many  of  my 
neighbors  dead  ;  but  my  house,  near  the  churchyard, 
uninfected,  and  that  part  of  my  family  which  I  left 
there,  all  safe,  through  the  great  mercy  of  God.** 

Scarcely  had  the  plague  ceased  its  ravages  before 
the  great  fire  commenced  its  destructive  career  in  Lon- 
don. Churches  in  great  numbers  were  destroyed  in  the 
general  conflagration.  The  zealous,  though  silenced 
watchmen,  ventured,  amid  the  ashes  of  a  ruined  city, 
to  urge  the  inhabitants  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to 
come,"  and  to  seek,  in  their  impoverished  condition, 

the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ.*' 

The  distress  occasioned  by  these  calamities  was 
great.  "  Many  thousands  were  cast  into  utter  want  and 
beggary,  and  many  thousands  of  the  formerly  rich 
were  disabled  from  relieving  them."  To  the  friends  of 
Christ  in  London,  the  silenced  ministers  in  the  coun- 
try had  been  accustomed  to  look  for  assistance  in  their 
distresses.  By  these  providences  their  resources  were 
in  a  measure  dried  up.  But,  though  enduring  dread- 
ful privations,  few,  if  any,  were  suffered  to  perish 
through  want.   Baxter  says  : 

Whilst  I  was  living  at  Acton,  as  long  as  the  act 
against  conventicles  was  in  force,  though  I  preached 
to  my  family,  few  of  the  town  came  to  hear  me.  pan- 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


81 


ly  because  they  thought  it  would  endanger  me,  and 
partly  for  fear  of  suffering  themselves,  but  especially 
because  they  were  an  ignorant  poor  people,  and  had 
no  appetite  for  such  things.  But  when  the  act  was 
expired,  there  came  so  many  that  I  wanted  room ;  and 
wiien  once  they  had  come  and  heard,  they  afterwards 
came  constantly ;  insomuch  that  in  a  little  time  there 
was  a  great  number  of  them  that  seemed  very  serious- 
ly affected  with  the  things  they  heard;  and  almost  all 
the  town,  besides  multitudes  from  Brentford  and  the 
neighboring  places,  came." 

He  attended  the  services  of  the  church,  and  between 
the  interval  of  service  preached  in  his  own  house  to 
as  many  as  chose  to  come.  This  gave  umbrage  to  the 
minister.  "  It  pleased  the  parson,"  says  Baxter,  "  that 
I  came  to  church,  and  brought  others  with  me;  but 
he  was  not  able  to  bear  the  sight  of  people's  crowding 
into  my  house,  thouj^h  they  heard  him  also;  so  that, 
though  he  spoke  kindly  to  me,  and  we  lived  in  seem- 
ing love  and  peace  while  he  was  there,  yet  he  could 
not  long  endure  it.  And  when  I  had  brought  the  peo- 
ple to  church  to  hear  him,  he  would  fall  upon  them 
with  groundless  reproaches,  as  if  he  had  done  it  pur- 
posely to  drive  them  away ;  and  yet  thought  that  my 
preaching  to  them,  because  it  was  in  a  private  house, 
did  all  the  mischief,  though  he  never  accused  me  of 
any  thing  that  I  spake.  For  I  preached  nothing  but 
Christianity  and  submission  to  our  superiors,  faith,  re- 
pentance, hope,  love,  humility,  self-denial,  meekness, 
patience,  and  obedience." 

During  his  residence  at  Acton,  Baxter  became  ac- 
quainted with  Lord  Chief  Justice  Hale,  who  occupied 
the  house  adjoining  his  own.  With  his  simplicity,  in- 
tegrity, piety,  and  learning,  he  was  delighted  and 


82 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


charmed.  He  denominates  him  "  the  pillar  of  justice, 
the  refuge  of  the  subject  who  feared  oppression,  and 
one  of  the  greatest  honors  of  iiis  majesty's  govern- 
ment." His  lordship,  too,  appears  to  have  been  equal- 
ly interested  in  the  character  of  his  neighbor.  His 
avowed  esteem  and  respect  for  the  despised  noncon- 
formist was  a  means  of  encouraging  and  strengthen- 
ing the  hands  of  Baxter.  "  When  the  people  crowded 
in  and  out  of  my  house  to  hear,  he  openly  showed  me 
such  great  respect  before  them  at  the  door,  and  never 
spake  a  word  against  it,  as  was  no  small  encourage- 
ment to  the  common  people  to  go  on ;  though  the 
other  sort  muttered  that  a  judge  should  seem  so  far  to 
countenance  that  which  they  took  to  be  against  the 
law." 


CHAPTER  V. 


HI.S  PERSECU'nONS,  TRIAL,  AND  DEATH. 

At  length  Baxter's  preaching  at  Acton  could  no 
longer  be  connived  at.  Information  was  laid  against 
him,  and  a  warrant  was  issued  for  his  apprehension. 
He  was  taken  before  two  justices  of  the  peace.  "  When 
I  came,"  he  writes,  "  they  shut  out  all  persons  from 
the  room,  and  would  not  give  leave  for  any  one  per- 
son, no,  not  their  own  clerk  or  servant,  or  the  consta- 
ble, to  hear  a  word  that  was  said  between  us.  Then 
they  told  me  that  I  was  convicted  of  keeping  conven- 
ticles contrary  to  law,  and  so  they  would  tender  me 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


83 


the  Oxford  oath.  I  desired  my  accusers  might  come 
face  to  face,  and  that  I  might  see  and  speak  with  the 
witnesses  who  testified  tliat  I  kept  conventicles  con- 
trary to  the  law,  which  I  denied,  as  far  as  I  under- 
stood law ;  but  they  would  not  grant  it.  I  pressed  that 
I  might  speak  in  the  hearing  of  some  witnesses,  and 
not  in  secret ;  for  I  supposed  theft  they  were  my  judges, 
and  that  their  presence  and  business  made  the  place 
a  place  of  judicature,  where  none  should  be  excluded, 
or  at  least  some  should  be  admitted.  But  I  could  not 
prevail.  Had  I  resolved  on  silence,  they  were  resolved 
to  proceed ;  and  I  thought  a  Christian  should  rather 
submit  to  violence,  and  give  place  to  injuries,  than 
stand  upon  his  right,  when  it  will  give  others  occasion 
to  account  him  obstinate.  I  asked  them  whether  I 
might  freely  speak  for  myself,  and  they  said  yea  ;  but, 
when  I  began  to  speak,  still  interrupted  me,  and  put 
me  by.  But,  with  much  importunity,  I  got  them  once 
to  hear  me,  while  I  told  them  why  I  took  not  my 
meeting  to  be  contrary  to  law,  and  why  the  Oxford 
act  concerned  me  not,  and  they  had  no  power  to  put 
that  oath  on  me  by  the  act ;  but  all  the  answer  I  could 
get  was,  'That  they  were  satisfied  of  what  they  did.' 
And  when,  among  other  reasonings  against  their 
course,  I  told  them,  though  Christ's  ministers  had,  in 
many  ages,  been  men  esteemed  and  used  as  we  now 
are,  and  their  afflicters  had  insulted  over  them,  the 
providence  of  God  had  still  so  ordered  it  that  the 
names  and  memory  of  their  silencers  and  afflicters 
have  been  left  to  posterity  for  a  reproach,  insomucii 
that  I  wondered  that  those  who  fear  not  God,  and 
care  not  for  their  own  or  the  people's  souls,  should 
yet  be  so  careless  of  their  fame,  when  honor  seems  so 
great  a  matter  with  them.  To  which  Ross  answered, 


84 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


that  lie  desired  no  greater  honor  to  his  name,  tlian 
liiat  it  should  be  remembered  of  him  that  he  did  this 
against  me,  and  such  as  I,  which  he  was  doing." 

The  result  of  this  interview  was,  that  Baxter  was 
fully  committed,  for  six  months,  to  the  New  Prison, 
Clcrkcnwell.  He  begged  that  his  liberty  might  be 
granted  till  the  following  Monday ;  but  as  he  would 
not  promise  not  to  preach  on  the  intervening  Lord's 
day,  his  request  was  denied. 

The  inhabitants  of  Acton  were  grieved  at  the  loss  of 
their  neighbor,  and  the  more  so,  as  the  incumbent  of 
the  parish  was  the  means  of  his  imprisonment.  "  The 
whole  town  of  Acton  were  greatly  exasperated  against 
the  dean  when  I  was  going  to  prison,  insomuch  that 
ever  since  they  abhorred  him  as  a  selfish  persecutor. 
Nor  could  he  devise  to  do  more  to  hinder  the  success 
of  his  (seldom)  preaching  there.  But  it  was  his  own 
choice:  'Let  them  hate  me,  so  they  fear  me.'  And  so 
]  finally  left  that  place,  being  grieved  most  that  Satan 
had  prevailed  to  stop  the  poor  people  in  such  hopeful 
beginnings  of  a  common  reformation,  and  that  I  was 
to  be  deprived  of  the  exceeding  grateful  neighborhood 
of  the  Lord  Chief  Justice  Hale,  who  could  scarce  re- 
frain tears  wiien  he  heard  of  the  first  warrant  for  my 
appearance. 

"My  imprisonment  was,  at  present,  no  great  suf- 
fering to  me,  for  I  had  an  honest  jailer,  who  showed 
me  all  the  kindness  he  could.  I  had  a  large  room, 
and  the  liberty  of  walking  in  a  fair  garden;  and  my 
wife  was  never  so  cheerful  a  companion  to  me  as  in 
prison,  and  was  very  much  against  my  seeking  to  be 
released ;  and  she  had  brought  so  many  necessaries, 
that  we  kept  house  as  contentedly  and  as  comfortably 
as  at  home,  though  in  a  narrower  room ;  and  I  had 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


85 


the  sight  of  more  of  my  friends  in  a  day,  than  I  had 
at  home  in  half  a  year." 

Efforts  were  made,  by  his  friends,  to  procure  his  re- 
lease, which,  in  consequence  of  some  informalities  in 
his  commitment,  were  successful.  His  reflections  on 
his  imprisonment  show  his  piety  and  submission. 

"While  I  stayed  in  prison,  I  saw  somewhat  to 
blame  myself  for,  and  somewhat  to  wonder  at  others 
for,  and  somewhat  to  advise  my  visitors  about. 

"I  blamed  myself  that  I  was  no  more  sensible  of 
the  spiritual  part  of  my  affliction;  such  as  the  inter- 
ruption of  my  work  among  the  poor  people  from  whom 
I  was  removed,  and  the  advantage  Satan  had  got 
against  them,  and  the  loss  of  my  own  public  liberty, 
for  worshiping  in  the  assemblies  of  God's  people. 

"I  marvelled  at  some  who  suffered  more  than  I,  as 
Mr.  Rutherford,  when  he  was  confined  to  Aberdeen, 
that  their  sufferings  occasioned  them  such  great  joys 
as  they  express;  which  surely  was  from  the  free  grace 
of  God,  to  encourage  others  by  their  example,  and  not 
that  their  own  impatience  made  them  need  it  much 
more  than  at  other  times.  For  surely  so  small  a  suf- 
fering needs  not  a  quarter  of  the  patience  which 
many  poor  nonconforming  ministers,  and  thousands 
of  others  need,  that  are  at  liberty;  whose  own  houses, 
through  poverty,  are  made  far  worse  to  them  than  my 
prison  was  to  me. 

"I  found  reason  to  entreat  my  Acton  neighbors 
not  to  let  their  passion  against  their  parson,  on  my 
account,  hinder  them  from  a  due  regard  to  his  doc- 
trine, nor  from  any  of  the  duty  which  they  owed  him  ; 
and  to  blame  some  M^ho  aggravated  my  sufferings, 
and  to  tell  them  that  I  had  no  mind  to  fancy  myself 
hurt  before  I  felt  it.  I  used,  at  home  to  confine  my- 


86 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


self  voluntari]}'^  almost  as  much.  I  had  ten-fold  more 
public  life  here,  and  converse  witii  my  friends,  tliaii 
I  had  at  home.  If  I  had  been  to  take  lodgings  at  Lon- 
don for  six  months,  and  had  not  known  that  this 
had  been  a  prison,  and  had  knocked  at  tlie  door  and 
asked  for  rooms,  I  should  as  soon  have  taken  this 
which  I  was  put  into,  as  most  in  town,  save  only  for 
the  interruption  of  my  sleep. 

"  I  found  cause  to  desire  of  my  brethren,  that,  when 
they  suffered,  they  wouid  remember  tliat  the  design  of 
Satan  was  more  against  their  souls  than  their  bodies  j 
that  it  was  not  the  lecist  of  his  hopes  to  destroy  the 
love  due  to  those  by  whom  they  surfered ;  to  render 
our  superiors  odious  to  the  people;  and  to  make  us 
lake  such  a  poor  suffering  as  this  for  a  sign  of  true 
grace,  instead  of  faith,  hope,  love,  mortification,  and  a 
heavenly  mind  ;  and  that  the  loss  ef  one  grain  of  love 
was  worse  than  a  long  imprisonment.  Also  that  it 
much  more  concerned  us  to  be  sure  that  we  deserve 
not  suffering,  than  that  we  be  delivered  from  it ;  and 
to  see  tliat  we  wrong  not  our  superiors,  than  that  they 
wrong  not  us ;  seeing  we  are  not  near  so  much  hurt 
by  their  severities  as  we  are  by  our  sins.  Some  told 
me  that  they  hoped  this  would  make  me  stand  a  little 
further  from  the  prelates  and  their  worship  than  I  had 
done.  To  whom  I  answered,  that  I  wondered  that 
they  should  think  that  a  prison  should  change  my 
judgment.  I  rather  thought  now  it  was  my  duty  to 
set  a  stricter  watch  upon  my  passions,  lest  they  should 
pervert  my  judgment,  and  carry  me  into  extremes  in 
opposition  to  those  who  afflicted  me.  If  passion  made 
me  lose  my  love,  or  my  religion,  the  loss  would  be 
my  own.  And  truth  did  not  change  because  I  was 
in  a  jaiL" 


LIFE  OF   BAXTER.  87 

His  time  was  now  chiefly  occupied  in  writing  and 
publishing  various  works  on  controversial  and  experi- 
mental diviuity,  and  in  making  some  attempts  to  pro- 
cure a  union  between  the  Presbyterians  and  Indepen- 
dents. He  frequently  conversed  and  corresponded 
with  Dr.  Owen  on  this  subject.  Owen  requested  Bax- 
ter to  draw  up  a  scheme  ol"  agreement.  Tliis  scheme 
Owen  attentively  considered,  but  could  not  adopt. 
Baxter's  attempts  to  unite  all  parties  satislied  none. 

Baxter,  with  a  few  others  of  tlie  nonconformists,  de- 
fended the  practice  of  occasional  attendance  and  com- 
munion in  the  parish  churclies  where  the  Gospel  was 
preached.  It  was,  in  consequence,  currently  reported 
at  this  time,  that  he  had  actually  conformed.  He  was 
offered  preferment  in  Scotland  by  the  king.  A  mitre, 
a  professor's  gown,  or  a  surplice,  was  presented  to  his 
choice.  But  he  declined  accepting  his  majesty's  offer. 
His  refusal  is  contained  in  his  letter  to  the  Earl  of  Lau- 
derdale, through  whom  the  offer  was  presented. 

"My  Lord, — Being  deeply  sensible  of  your  lord- 
.ship's  favors,  and  in  special  of  your  liberal  offers  for 
my  entertainment  in  Scotland,  I  humbly  return  you 
my  very  hearty  thanks.  But  these  considerations  for- 
bid me  to  entertain  any  hopes  or  further  thoughts  of 
such  a  remove  : 

"  1.  The  experience  of  my  great  weakness  and  de- 
cay of  strength,  and  particularly  of  this  last  winters 
pain,  and  how  much  worse  I  am  in  winter  tlian  in 
summer,  doth  fully  persuade  me  that  I  should  live  but 
a  little  while  in  Scotland,  and  that  in  a  disabled,  use- 
less condition,  rather  keeping  my  bed  than  the  pulpit. 

"2.  I  am  engaged  in  writing  a  book,  which,  if  I 
could  hope  to  live  to  finish,  is  almost  all  the  service 


88 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


that  I  expect  to  do  God  and  his  church  more  in  the 
world — a  Latin  Methodus  Theologiae ;  and  I  can  hard- 
ly hope  to  live  so  long,  it  requiring  near  a  year's  labor 
more.  Now,  if  I  should  go  and  spend  that  one  half 
year,  or  year,  which  should  finish  that  work,  in  tra- 
vel, and  the  trouble  of  such  a  removal,  and  then  leave 
my  intended  work  undone,  it  would  disappoint  me  of 
the  ends  of  my  life  ;  for  I  live  only  for  work,  and  there- 
fore should  remove  only  for  work,  and  not  for  wealth 
and  honor,  if  ever  I  remove. 

"  3.  If  I  were  there,  all  that  I  could  hope  for  were 
liberty  to  preach  the  Gospel  of  salvation,  and  especially 
in  some  university  among  young  scholars.  But  I  hear 
that  you  have  enough  already  for  this  work,  that  are 
like  to  do  it  better  than  I  can. 

"  4. 1  have  a  family,  and  in  it  a  mother-in-law,  eighty 
years  of  age,  of  honorable  extraction  and  great  worth, 
whom  I  must  not  neglect,  and  who  cannot  travel.  And 
it  is  to  such  a  one  as  I,  so  great  a  business  to  remove 
a  family,  and  all  our  goods  and  books  so  far,  as  deters 
me  from  thinking  of  it,  having  paid  so  dear  for  remo- 
vals tliese  eight  years  as  I  have  done,  and  being  but 
yesterday  settled  in  a  house  which  I  have  newly  taken, 
and  that  with  great  trouble  and  loss  of  time. 

*•  All  this  concurs  to  deprive  me  of  this  benefit  of 
your  lordship's  favor.  But,  my  lord,  there  are  other 
fruits  of  it,  which  I  am  not  altogether  hopeless  of  re- 
ceiving. When  I  am  commanded  to  pray  for  kings, 
and  all  in  authority,  I  am  allowed  the  ambition  of  this 
preferment,  which  is  all  that  ever  I  aspired  after :  '  to 
live  a  quiet  and  peaceable  life,  in  all  godliness  and 
honesty.' 

"  I  am  weary  of  the  noise  of  contentious  revilers, 
and  have  often  had  thoughts  to  go  into  a  foreign  land. 


LIFE    OF  BAXTER. 


89 


if  I  could  find  any,  where  I  might  have  a  healthful  air 
and  quietness,  that  I  might  but  live  and  die  in  peace. 
When  I  sit  in  a  corner,  and  meddle  with  nobody,  and 
hope  the  world  will  forget  that  I  am  alive,  court,  cit}', 
and  country  is  still  filled  with  clamors  against  me; 
and  when  a  preacher  wants  preferment,  his  way  is  to 
preach  or  write  a  book  against  the  nonconformists, 
and  me  by  name.  So  that  tlie  press  and  pulpits  of 
some,  utter  bloody  invectives  against  myself,  as  if  my 
peace  were  inconsistent  with  the  kingdom's  happiness. 
And  never  did  my  eyes  read  such  impudent  un.lruths, 
in  matter  of  fact,  as  these  writings  contain ;  and  they 
cry  out  for  answers  and  reasons  of  my  nonconformi- 
ty, while  they  know  the  law  forbids  me  to  answer 
them  unhcensed.  I  expect  not  that  any  favor  or  jus- 
tice of  my  superiors  should  cure  any  of  this.  But  a 
few  things  I  would  desire  : 

"  1.  If  I  might  but  be  heard  to  speak  for  myself,  be- 
fore I  be  judged  by  them,  and  such  things  be  believed. 
For  to  contemn  the  judgment  of  my  rulers  is  to  dis- 
honor them. 

"  2.  If  I  might  live  quietly  to  follow  my  private  study, 
and  might  once  again  have  the  use  of  my  books,  whicli 
I  have  not  seen  these  ten  years,  still  paying  for  a  room 
in  which  they  stand  at  Kidderminster,  where  they  are 
eaten  with  worms  and  rats,  having  no  security  for  my 
quiet  abode  in  any  place  long  enough  to  encourage  me 
to  send  for  them.  And  if  I  might  have  the  liberty  that 
every  beggar  has,  to  travel  from  town  *o  town  ;  I  mean, 
but  to  London,  to  oversee  the  press,  when  any  thing 
of  mine  is  licensed  for  it.  And, 

"3.  If  I  be  sent  to  Newgate  for  preaching  Christ's 
Gospel,  (for  I  dare  not  sacrilegiously  renounce  my  call- 
ing, to  which  I  am  consecrated,)  that  I  may  have  the  fa- 

L.   B.  8* 


90 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


vor  of  a  better  prison,  where  I  may  but  walk  and  write. 

"  These  I  should  take  as  very  great  favors,  and  ac- 
knowledge your  lordship  my  benefactor,  if  you  pro- 
cure them.  For  I  will  not  so  much  injure  you  as  to 
desire,  or  my  reason  as  to  expect,  any  greater  things ; 
no,  not  the  benefit  of  the  law.  I  think  I  broke  no  law 
in  any  of  the  preachings  which  I  am  accused  of;  and 
I  most  confidently  think  that  no  law  imposes  on  me 
the  Oxford  oath,  any  more  than  any  conformable  mi- 
nister; and  I  am  past  doubting  the  present  mittimus 
for  my  imprisonment  is  quite  without  law.  But  if 
the  justices  think  otherwise  now,  or  at  any  time,  I 
know  no  remedy.  I  have  yet  a  license  to  preach  pub- 
licly in  London  diocess,  under  the  archbishop's  own 
hand  and  seal,  which  is  yet  valid  for  occasional  ser- 
mons, though  not  for  lectures  or  cures ;  but  I  dare  not 
use  it,  because  it  is  in  the  bishop's  power  to  recall  it. 
Would  but  the  bishop,  who,  one  would  think,  should 
not  be  against  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel,  not  recall 
my  license,  I  could  preach  occasional  sermons,  which 
would  absolve  my  conscience  from  all  obligations  to 
private  preaching.  For  it  is  not  maintenance  that  I  ex- 
pect; I  have  never  received  a  farthing  for  my  preach- 
ing, to  my  knowledge,  since  May  1, 1662.  I  thank  God 
I  have  food  and  raiment  without  being  chargeable  to 
any  man,  which  is  all  that  I  desire,  had  I  but  leave  to 
preach  for  nothing,  and  that  only  where  there  is  a  no- 
torious necessity.  I  humbly  crave  your  lordship's  par- 
don for  this  tediousness,  and  again  return  you  my  very 
great  thanks  for  your  great  favors ;  remaining,  &c. 

"  June  24,  1670.  Richard  Baxter." 

He  says :  "  On  October  11,  1672, 1  fell  into  a  dan- 
gerous fit  of  sickness,  which  God,  in  his  wonted  mer 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


91 


cy,  in  time  so  far  removed  as  to  return  me  to  some 
capacity  of  service. 

"  I  had  till  now  forborne,  for  several  reasons,  to  seek 
a  license  for  preaching  from  the  king,  upon  the  tole- 
ration. But  when  all  others  had  taken  theirs,  and 
were  settled  in  London  and  other  places,  as  they  could 
get  opportunity,  I  delayed  no  longer,  but  sent  to  seek 
one,  on  condition  I  might  have  it  without  the  title  of 
Independent,  Presbyterian,  or  any  other  party,  but 
only  as  a  nonconformist.  And  before  I  sent.  Sir  Thomas 
Player,  chamberlain  of  London,  had  procured  it  me 
without  my  knowledge  or  endeavor.  I  had  sought 
none  hitherto. 

"  1.  Because  I  was  unwilling  to  be,  or  seem  any 
cause  of  that  way  of  liberty,  if  a  better  might  have 
been  had,  and  therefore  would  not  meddle  in  it. 

"  2.  I  lived  ten  miles  from  London,  and  thought  it 
not  just  to  come  and  set  up  a  congregation  there,  till 
the  ministers  had  fully  settled  theirs,  who  had  borne 
the  burden  there  in  the  times  of  the  raging  plague  and 
fire,  and  other  calamities,  lest  I  should  draw  away 
any  of  their  auditors,  and  hinder  their  maintenance. 

"  3.  I  perceived  that  no  one,  that  ever  I  heard  of 
till  mine,  could  get  a  license,  unless  he  would  be  en- 
titled in  it,  a  Presbyterian,  Independent,  or  of  some 
sect. 

"  The  19th  of  November  was  the  first  day,  after  ten 
years'  silence,  that  I  preached  in  a  tolerated  public 
assembly,  though  not  yet  tolerated  in  any  consecrated 
church,  but  only,  against  law,  in  my  own  house. 

"  Some  merchants  set  up  a  Tuesday's  lecture  in 
London,  to  be  kept  by  six  ministers  at  Pinner's  Hall, 
allowing  them  twenty  shillings  a  piece  each  sermon, 
of  whom  they  chose  me  to  be  one." 


92 


LIFE  OF  BAXTER. 


"  January  24,  1672-3,  I  Degaii  a  Friday  lecture  at 
Mr.  Turner's  church  in  New-street,  near  Fetter-lane, 
with  great  convenience  and  God's  encouraging  bless- 
ing ;  but  I  never  took  a  penny  of  money  for  it  of  any 
one.  And  on  the  Lord's  days  I  had  no  congregation 
to  preach  to,  but  occasionally  to  any  that  desire  me, 
being  unwilling  to  set  up  a  church  and  become  the 
pastor  of  any,  or  take  maintenance,  in  this  distracted 
and  unsettled  way,  unless  further  changes  shall  mani- 
fest It  to  be  my  duty.  Nor  did  I  ever  yet  administer 
the  Lord's  supper  to  any  one  person,  but  to  my  old 
flock  at  Kidderminster." 

"On  February  20th  I  took  my  house  in  Bloomsbury, 
in  London,  and  removed  thither  with  my  family;  God 
having  mercifully  given  me  three  years'  great  peace 
among  quiet  neighbors  at  Totteridge,  and  much  more 
health  and  ease  than  I  expected,  and  some  opportuni* 
ty  to  serve  him." 

In  this  situation  he  continued  for  some  time,  em- 
ploying his  flying  pen  and  his  unwearied  efforts  to  pro- 
mote the  peace  of  the  churches  and  to  instruct  and 
bless  mankind.  In  April,  1674,  he  writes,  "  God  has 
so  much  increased  my  languishing,  and  laid  me  so 
low,  that  I  have  reason  to  think  that  my  time  on  earth 
will  not  be  long.  And  O  how  good  has  the  will  of  God 
proved  hitherto  to  me  !  And  will  it  not  be  best  at  last? 
Experience  causes  me  to  say  to  his  praise,  '  Great 
peace  have  they  that  love  his  law,  and  nothing  shall 
offiend  them;'  and  though  my  flesh  and  heart  fail,  God 
is  the  rock  of  my  heart  and  my  portion  for  ever. 

"  At  this  time  came  out  my  book  called  'The  Poor 
Man's  Family  Book,'  which  the  remembrance  of  the 
great  use  of  Mr.  Dent's  'Plain  Man's  Pathway  to 
Heaven,'  now  laid  by,  occasioned  me  to  write  for 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


93 


poor  country  families,  who  cannot  buy  or  read  many 
books." 

Anxiously  bent  on  doing  good,  and  encouraged  by 
the  reception  and  success  his  "Poor  Man's  Family 
Book"  met  with,  he  prepared  several  other  works  for 
the  promotion  and  increase  of  family  religion.  Ho 
justly  believed  that  domestic  piety  was  of  the  utmost 
importance  for  the  maintenance  and  progress  of  Chris- 
tianity. To  promote  "  household  religion  "  he  employ- 
ed all  his  energies  while  at  Kidderminster.  In  his  "Ro 
formed  Pastor,"  he  urges  ministers  seriously  to  con 
sider  the  subject.  He  says  :  "  The  life  of  religion,  and 
the  welfare  and  glory,  both  of  the  church  and  state, 
depend  much  on  family  government  and  duty.  If  wo 
suffer  the  neglect  of  this,  we  shall  undo  all.  What  are 
we  like  to  do  ourselves  for  reforming  a  congregation, 
if  all  the  work  be  cast  on  us  alone,  and  masters  of  fa- 
milies neglect  that  necessary  duty  of  their  own  by 
which  they  are  bound  to  help  us  ?  If  any  good  be  be- 
gun by  the  ministry  in  any  soul,  a  careless,  prayerless, 
worldly  family,  is  likely  to  stifle  it,  or  very  much  hin- 
der it;  whereas,  if  you  could  but  get  the  rulers  of  fa- 
milies to  do  their  duty,  to  take  up  the  work  where 
you  left  it,  and  help  it  on,  what  abundance  of  good 
might  be  done  !  I  beseech  you,  therefore,  if  you  de- 
sire the  reformation  and  welfare  of  your  people,  do  all 
you  can  to  promote  family  religion." 

He  prosecuted  his  Master's  work  with  unwearied 
zeal,  though  suffering  great  bodily  affliction,  and  ex- 
posed to  much  vexatious  and  embarrassing  opposition. 

He  says :  "  Taking  it  to  be  my  duty  to  preach  while 
toleration  continues,  I  removed,  the  last  spring,  to 
London,  where  my  diseases,  increasing  this  winter,  a 
constant  head-ache  added  to  the  rest,  and  continuing 


94 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


stronor  for  about  half  a  year,  constrained  me  to  cease 
my  Friday's  lecture,  and  an  afternoon  sermon  on  the 
Lord's  days  in  my  house,  to  my  grief;  and  to  preach 
only  one  sermon  a  week,  at  St.  James's  market-house 
where  some  had  hired  an  inconvenient  place.  But  i 
liad  great  encouragement  to  labor  there,  because  O) 
the  notorious  necessity  of  the  people;  it  being  tiie  ha- 
bitation of  the  most  ignorant,  aiiieistical,  and  popish 
about  London ;  and  because,  beyond  my  expectation, 
the  people  generally  proved  exceedingly  willing,  and 
attentive,  and  tractable,  and  gave  me  great  hopes  o', 
much  success." 

"  On  July  5,  1G74,  at  our  meeting  over  St.  James> 
market-house,  God  vouchsafed  us  a  great  deliveiance. 
A  main  beam,  before  weakened  by  the  weight  of  the 
people,  so  cracked,  that  three  times  they  ran  ifx  terroi 
out  of  the  room,  thinking  it  was  faUing  ;  but  lemem- 
bering  the  like  at  Dunsian's  in  the  west,  I  reproved 
their  fear  as  causeless.  But  the  next  day,  takmg  up 
the  boards,  we  found  that  two  rents  in  the  beam  wer& 
so  great  that  it  was  a  wonder  of  Providence  that  ihu 
floor  had  not  fallen,  and  the  roof  with  it,  to  the  de- 
struction of  multitudes.  The  Lord  make  us  thankful!' 

It  pleased  God  to  give  me  marvellous  encourage 
ment  in  my  preaching  at  St.  James's.  The  crack  having, 
frightened  away  most  of  the  richer  sort,  especially  th». 
women,  most  of  the  congregation  were  youiig  men, 
of  the  most  capable  age,  who  heard  with  great  atien 
lion  ;  and  many  that  had  not  come  to  church  for  many 
years,  manifested  so  great  a  change,  (some  papiotfi 
and  divers  others,  returning  public  thanks  to  God  (<u 
their  conversion)  as  made  all  my  charge  and  trouck- 
easy  to  me.  An.  )ng  all  the  popish,  rude,  and  ignoiaa* 
people  who  were  inhabitants  of  those  parts,  we  iiad 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


95 


scarcely  any  that  opened  their  mouths  agahist  us,  and 
that  did  nut  speak  well  of  the  preaching  of  the  word 
among  them  ;  though,  when  I  came  first  thither,  the 
most  knowing  inhabitants  assured  me  that  some  of 
the  same  persons  wished  my  death.  Among  the  ruder 
sort,  a  common  reformation  was  noticed  in  the  place, 
in  their  conversation  as  well  as  in  their  judgments." 

"The  dangerous  crack  over  the  market-house  at 
St.  James's,  made  many  desire  that  I  had  a  larger 
safer  place  for  meeting.  And  though  my  own  dullness, 
and  great  backwardness  to  troublesome  business,  made 
me  very  averse  to  so  great  an  undertaking,  judging 
that,  it  being  in  the  face  of  the  court,  it  would  never 
be  endured,  yet  the  great  and  incessant  importunity 
of  many,  out  of  a  fervent  desire  of  the  good  of  souls, 
constrained  me  to  undertake  it.  And  when  it  wa^s 
almost  finished,  in  Oxendon-street,  Mr.  Henry  Coven- 
try, one  of  his  majesty's  principal  secretaries,  who  had 
a  house  joining  to  it,  and  was  a  member  of  parliament, 
spake  twice  against  it  in  the  parliament ;  but  no  one 
seconded  him." 

"And  that  we  might  do  the  more  good,  my  wife 
urged  the  building  of  another  meeting  place  in  Blooms- 
bury,  for  Mr.  Reed,  to  be  furthered  by  my  sometimes 
helping  him  :  the  neighborhood  being  very  full  of  peo- 
ple, rich  and  poor. 

"  I  was  so  long  v/earied  with  keeping  my  doors  shut 
against  them  that  came  to  distrain  on  my  goods  for 
preaching,  that  I  was  induced  to  go  from  my  house, 
and  to  sell  all  my  goods,  and  to  hide  my  library  first, 
and  afterwards  to  sell  it.  So  that  if  books  had  been 
my  treasure,  and  I  valued  little  more  on  earth,  I  had 
been  now  without  a  treasure.  About  twelve  years  I 
was  driven  a  hundred  miles  from  them ;  and  when  I 


96 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


had  paid  dear  for  the  carriage,  after  two  or  three  years 
1  was  forced  to  sell  Iheiii.  And  the  prelates,  to  liinder 
me  from  preaching,  deprived  me  also  of  these  private 
comforts.  But  God  saw  that  lliey  were  my  snare.  We 
brought  nothing  into  the  world,  and  we  must  carry 
nothing  out. 

I  was  the  more  willing  to  part  with  goods,  books, 
and  all,  that  I  might  have  nothing  to  be  distrained, 
and  so  go  on  to  preach.  And  accordingly  removing 
my  dwelling  to  the  new  chapel  which  I  had  built,  I 
purposed  to  venture  there  to  preach,  there  being  forty 
thousand  persons  in  the  parish,  as  is  supposed,  more 
than  can  hear  in  the  parish  church,  who  have  no  place 
to  go  to  for  God's  public  worship.  So  that  I  set  not 
up  church  against  church,  but  preached  to  those  that 
must  else  have  none,  being  unwilling  that  London 
should  turn  atheists,  or  live  worse  than  infidels.  But 
when  I  had  preached  there  but  once,  a  resolution  was 
taken  to  surprise  me  the  next  day,  and  send  me  for 
six  months  to  the  common  jail,  upon  the  act  for  the 
Oxford  oath.  Not  knowing  of  this,  it  being  the  hottest 
part  of  the  year,  I  agreed  to  go  for  a  few  weeks  into 
the  country,  twenty  miles  oif.  But  the  night  before  I 
should  go,  I  fell  so  ill  that  I  was  induced  to  send  to 
disappoint  both  the  coach  and  my  intended  compan- 
ion, Mr.  Silvester.  And  when  I  was  thus  fully  resolved 
to  stay,  it  pleased  God,  after  the  ordinary  coach  hour, 
that  three  men,  from  three  parts  of  the  city,  met  at  my 
house  accidentally,  just  at  the  game  time,  almost  to  a 
minute,  of  whom,  if  any  one  had  not  been  there,  I  had 
not  gone,  namely,  the  coachman  again  to  urge  me, 
Mr.  Silvester,  whom  I  had  put  off,  and  Dr.  Coxe,  who 
compelled  me,  and  told  me  he  would  carry  me  into 
the  coach.  It  proved  a  special  merciful  providence  of 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


97 


God  ;  for  after  one  week  of  languishing  and  pain,  I 
had  nine  weeks  greater  ease  than  ever  I  expected  in 
this  world,  and  greater  comfort  in  my  work.  My  good 
friend  Richard  Berisford,  Esq.  clerk  of  the  exchequer, 
whose  importunity  drew  me  to  his  house,  spared  no 
cost,  labor,  or  kindness  for  my  health  or  service." 

Baxter  was  now  constantly  harassed  with  informa- 
tions, fines,  and  warrants  of  distress,  but  he  bore  them 
all  with  astonishing  meekness  and  patience.  He  endea- 
vored to  convince  and  convert  the  informers  and  ofR- 
cens,  who,  on  several  occasions,  came  to  apprehend 
him.  In  some  cases  his  exhortations  were  successful, 
il  not  to  their  actual  conversion,  at  least  to  induce  them 
to  relinquish  their  persecuting  practices. 

A  striking  instance  of  his  placable  and  forgiving  dis- 
position is  given  in  the  following  extract.  "  Keting, 
the  informer,  being  commonly  detested  for  prosecuting 
me,  was  cast  into  jail  for  debt,  and  wrote  to  me  to  en- 
deavor his  deliverance,  which  I  did;  and  in  his  letters 
says,  'Sir,  I  assure  you  I  do  verily  believe  that  God 
lias  bestowed  all  this  affliction  on  me  because  I  was 
so  vile  a  wretch  as  to  trouble  you.  And  I  assm^e  you 
I  never  did  a  thing  in  my  life  that  has  so  much  trou- 
bled myself  as  that  did.  I  pray  God  to  forgive  me.  And 
truly,  I  do  not  think  of  any  that  went  that  way  to  work, 
that  ever  God  would  favor  with  his  mercy.  And  truly, 
without  great  mercy  from  God,  I  do  not  think  that 
ever  I  shall  thrive  or  prosper.  And  I  hope  you  will  be 
pleased  to  pray  to  God  for  me.'" 

Baxter  considered  that  the  "  vows  of  God  were  upon 
him,"  and  that  he  must  continue  to  preach  wherever 
Divine  providence  opened  a  door  for  the  purpose.  His 
obligations  to  God  he  considered  superior  to  those  by 
■which  he  was  bound  to  obey  the  ordinances  of  man  • 
L.  B.  9 


98 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


and  therefore,  though  forbidden  by  law,  and  in  despite 
of  persecution,  be  continued  to  preach  the  Gospel  to 
his  ignorant  and  perishing  countrymen. 

He  says:  "Being  driven  from  home,  and  having  an 
old  license  of  the  bishop's  yet  in  force,  by  the  counte- 
nance of  that,  and  the  great  industry  of  Mr.  Berisford, 
I  had  leave  and  invitation  for  ten  Lord's  days  to  preach 
in  the  churches  round  about.  The  first  that  I  preached 
in,  after  thirteen  years'  ejection  and  prohibition,  was 
Rickmanworth,  and  after  that,  at  Sarratt,  at  King's 
Langley,  at  Chesham,  at  Charlfont,  and  at  Amersham, 
and  that  often  twice  a-day.  Those  heard  who  had  not 
come  to  church  for  seven  years;  and  two  or  three 
thousand  heard,  where  scarcely  a  hundred  were  wont 
to  come ;  and  with  so  much  attention  and  willingness, 
as  gave  me  very  great  hopes  that  I  never  spalve  to 
them  in  vain.  And  thus  soul  and  body  had  these  spe- 
cial mercies." 

"  When  I  had  been  kept  a  whole  year  from  preach- 
ing in  the  chapel  which  I  built,  on  tlie  IGlh  of  April, 
1676,  I  began  in  another,  in  a  tempestuous  time;  such 
was  the  necessity  of  the  parish  of  St.  Martin's,  where 
about  60,000  souls  have  no  church  to  go  to,  nor  any 
public  worship  of  God  !  How  long,  Lord  !" 

"  Being  denied  forcibly  the  use  of  the  chapel  which 
I  had  built,  I  was  forced  to  let  it  stand  empty,  and  pay 
thirty  pounds  per  annum  for  the  ground-rent  myself, 
and  glad  to  preach  for  notliing,  near  it,  at  a  chapel 
built  by  another,  formerly  in  Swallow-street,  because 
it  was  among  the  same  poor  people  that  had  no 
preaching." 

Interruptions  and  informations  were  so  numerous  at 
Swallow-street  that  he  was  obliged  to  discontinue  his 
labors  there.     It  pleagcd  God  to  take  away,  by  tor- 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


99 


ment  of  the  stone,  that  excellent  faithful  minister,  Mr. 
Thomas  Wadsworth,  in  Soiuhwark  ;  and  just  when  I 
was  thus  kept  out  at  Swallow-street,  his  flock  invited 
me  to  South wark,  where,  though  I  refused  to  be  their 
pastor,  I  preached  many  months  in  peace,  there  being 
no  justice  willing  to  disturb  us." 

"  When  Dr.  Lloyd  became  pastor  of  St  Martin's  in 
the  Fields,  I  was  encouraged  by  Dr.  Tillotson  to  olfer 
him  my  chapel  in  Oxendon-street  for  public  worship, 
which  he  accepted,  to  my  great  satisfaction,  and  now 
there  is  constant  preaching  there.  Be  it  by  conformist 
or  nonconformists,  I  rejoice  that  Christ  is  preached." 

His  reputation,  too,  was  assailed.  He  was  charged 
with  uttering  falsehood,  and  with  the  crime  of  mur- 
der !  He  was  able,  however,  successfully  to  refute  the 
calumnies,  and  to  confound  his  calumniators. 

About  this  period,  1681,  Baxter  was  called  to  endure 
a  severe  and  trying  providence,  in  the  death  of  his  wife. 
They  had  lived  together  nineteen  years.  She  had  been 
ijis  companion  in  tribulation  ;  his  comforter  in  sorrow. 
Animated  by  her  piety  and  her  influence,  he  had  per- 
severed in  all  his  attempts  to  do  good.  But,  now,  ia 
the  advance  of  life,  in  weakened  health,  in  persecution, 
and  in  no  distant  prospect  of  imprisonment,  he  was 
left  to  pursue  his  journey  alone.  She  died  in  the  faith 
and  hope  of  the  Gospel,  June  17,  1681. 

He  still  pursued  his  studies  and  hi^a  occasional  labors. 
"  Having  been  for  retirement  in  the  country,  from  Ju- 
ly till  August  14,  1682,  returning  in  great  weakness,  I 
was  able  only  to  preach  twice,  of  which  the  last  was 
in  my  usual  lecture  in  New-street,  and  it  fell  out  to  be 
August  24,  just  that  day  twenty  years,  that  I,  and  near 
two  thousand  more,  had  been  by  law  forbidden  to 
preach  any  more.   I  was  sensible  of  God's  wonderful 


100 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER, 


mercy  that  had  kept  so  many  of  us  twenty  years  in  so 
much  liberty  and  peace,  while  so  many  severe  laws 
were  in  force  against  us,  and  so  great  a  number  were 
round  about  us  who  wanted  neither  malice  nor  power 
to  afflict  us.  And  so  I  took,  that  day,  my  leave  of  the 
pulpit  and  public  work,  in  a  thankful  congregation. 
And  it  is  like,  indeed,  to  be  my  last. 

"  But  after  this,  when  I  had  ceased  preaching,  I 
was,  being  newly  arisen  from  extremity  of  pain,  sud- 
denly surprised  in  my  house  by  a  poor  violent  inform- 
er, and  many  constables  and  officers,  who  rushed  in 
and  apprehended  me,  and  served  on  me  one  warrant 
to  seize  on  my  person,  for  coming  within  five  miles  of 
a  corporation  ;  and  five  more  warrants,  to  distrain  for 
a  hundred  and  ninety  pounds  for  five  sermons.  They 
cast  my  servants  into  fears,  and  were  about  to  take  all 
my  books  and  goods,  and  I  contentedly  went  with 
them  towards  the  justice  to  be  sent  to  jail,  and  left  my 
house  to  their  will.  But  Dr.  Thomas  Coxe,  meeting 
me,  forced  me  in  again  to  my  couch  and  bed,  and  went 
to  five  justices  and  took  his  oath,  without  my  know- 
ledge, that  I  could  not  go  to  prison  without  danger  of 
death.  Upon  that  the  justices  delayed  a  day,  till  they 
could  speak  with  the  king,  and  told  him  what  the  doc- 
tor had  sworn  ;  and  the  king  consented  that  the  pre- 
sent imprisonment  should  be  forborne,  that  I  might 
die  at  home.  But  they  executed  all  their  warrants  on 
my  books  and  goods,  even  the  bed  that  I  lay  sick  on, 
and  sold  them  all ;  and  some  friends  paid  them  as  much 
money  as  they  were  prized  at,  which  I  repaid." 

"  When  I  borrowed  some  necessaries  I  was  never 
the  quieter;  for  they  threatened  to  come  upon  me 
again  and  take  all  as  mine,  whosesoever  it  was,  which 
they  found  in  my  possession.  So  that  1  had  no  reme- 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


101 


dy,  but  utterly  to  forsake  my  house,  and  goods,  and 
all,  and  take  secret  lodgings  distant  in  a  stranger's 
house.  But  having  a  long  lease  of  my  own  house, 
which  binds  me  to  pay  a  greater  rent  than  now  it  is 
worth,  wherever  I  go  I  must  pay  that  rent. 

"  The  separation  from  my  books  would  have  been 
a  greater  part  of  my  small  aflliclion,  but  that  I  found 
I  was  near  the  end  both  of  tliat  work  and  life  which 
needeth  books,  and  so  I  easily  let  go  all.  Naked  came 
I  into  the  world,  and  naked  must  I  go  out. 

"  But  I  never  wanted  less  what  man  can  give,  than 
when  men  had  taken  all.  My  old  friends,  and  stran- 
gers to  me,  were  so  liberal,  that  I  was  constrained  to 
check  their  bounty.  Their  kindness  was  a  surer  and 
larger  revenue  to  me  than  my  own. 

"  But  God  was  pleased  quickly  to  put  me  past  all 
fear  of  man,  and  all  desire  of  avoiding  suflering  from 
them  by  concealment,  by  laying  on  me  more  himself 
than  man  can  do.  Their  imprisonment,  with  tolera- 
ble health,  would  have  seemed  a  palace  to  me ;  and 
had  they  put  me  to  death  for  such  a  duty  as  tliey  per- 
secute me  for,  it  would  have  been  a  joyful  end  of  my 
calamity.  But  day  and  night  I  groan  and  languish  un- 
der God's  just  afflicting  hand.  As  waves  follow  waves 
in  the  tempestuous  seas,  so  one  pain  and  danger  fol- 
lows another  in  this  sinful  miserable  flesh.  I  die  daily, 
and  yet  remain  alive.  God,  in  his  great  mercy^  know- 
ing my  dullness  in  health  and  ease,  makes  it  much 
easier  to  repent  and  hate  ray  sin,  and  loath  myself, 
and  contemn  the  world,  and  submit  to  the  sentence  of 
death  with  willingness,  than  otherwise  it  was  ever  like 
to  have  been.  0  how  little  is  it  that  wrathful  enemies 
can  do  against  us,  in  comparison  of  what  our  sin  and 
the  justice  of  God  can  do  !  And  O  how  little  is  it  that 

L.   B.  9* 


102  LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 

the  best  and  kindest  of  friends  can  do  for  a  pained 
body  or  a  guilty  soul,  in  comparison  of  one  gracious 
look  or  word  from  God !  Wo  be  to  liiin  that  has  no 
better  help  than  man :  and  blessed  is  he  whose  help 
and  hope  is  in  the  Lord.'' 

"  While  I  continued,  night  and  day,  under  constant 
pain,  and  often  strong,  and  under  the  sentence  of  ap- 
proaching death  by  an  incurable  disease,  which  age 
and  great  debility  yields  to,  I  found  great  need  of  the 
constant  exercise  of  patience  by  obedient  submission  to 
God  :  and,  writing  a  small  Tract  of  it  for  my  own  use, 
I  saw  reason  to  yield  to  them  that  desired  it  might  be 
published,  there  being  especially  so  common  need  of 
'  obedient  patience. '  " 

"  Under  my  daily  pains  1  was  drawn  to  a  work  which 
I  had  never  the  least  thoughts  of,  and  is  like  to  be  the 
last  of  my  life,  to  write  a  paraphrase  on  the  New  Tes- 
tament. Mr.  John  Humphrey  having  long  importuned 
me  to  write  a  paraphrase  on  the  Epistle  to  the  Romans, 
when  I  had  done  that,  the  usefulness  of  it  to  myself 
drew  me  farther  and  farther,  till  I  had  done  all.  But 
having  confessed  my  ignorance  of  the  Revelation,  and 
)^et  unwilling  wholly  to  omit  it,  I  gave  but  general 
notes,  with  the  reasons  of  my  uncertainty  in  the  great- 
est difficulties,  which  I  know  will  fall  under  the  sharp 
censure  of  many.  But  truth  is  more  valuable  than 
such  men's  praises.  I  fitted  the  whole,  by  plainness, 
to  the  use  of  ordinary  families. 

"  After  many  times  deliverance  from  the  sentence 
of  death,  on  November  20,  1684.  in  the  very  entrance 
of  the  seventieth  year  of  my  age,  God  was  pleased  so 
greatly  to  increase  my  painful  diseases,  as  to  pass  on 
me  the  sentence  of  a  painful  death.  But  God  turns  it 
to  my  good,  and  gives  me  a  greater  willingness  to  die 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


103 


than  I  once  thought  I  should  ever  have  attained.  The 
Lord  teach  me  more  fully  to  love  his  will  and  rest 
therein,  as  mucli  better  than  my  own,  that  often  strives 
against  it. 

"  A  little  before  this,  while  I  lay  in  pain  and  lan- 
guishing, the  justices  of  sessions  sent  warrants  to  ap- 
prehend me,  about  a  thousand  more  being  also  on  the 
list,  to  be  all  bound  to  good  beliavior.  I  thought  they 
would  send  me  six  months  to  prison  for  not  taking  the 
Oxford  oath,  and  dwelling  in  London,  and  so  I  refused 
to  open  my  chamber  door  to  them,  their  warrant  not 
being  to  break  it  open.  But  they  set  six  officers  at  my 
study  door,  who  watched  all  night,  and  kept  me  from 
my  bed  and  food ;  so  that  the  next  day  I  yielded  to 
them,  who  carried  me,  scarce  able  to  stand,  to  their 
sessions,  and  bound  me,  in  a  four  hundred  pounds'  bond, 
to  good  behavior.  I  desired  to  know  what  my  crime 
was,  and  who  were  my  accusers ;  but  they  told  me  it 
was  for  no  fault,  but  to  secure  the  government  in  evil 
times  ;  and  that  they  had  a  list  of  many  suspected  per- 
sons, who  must  do  the  like  as  well  as  I.  I  desired  to 
know  for  what  I  was  numbered  with  the  suspected, 
and  by  whose  accusation ;  but  they  gave  me  good 
words,  and  would  not  tell  me.  I  told  them  I  would 
rather  they  would  send  me  to  jail  than  put  me  in  cir- 
cumstances to  wrong  others  by  being  bound  with  me 
in  bonds  that  I  was  like  to  break  to-morrow ;  for  if 
there  did  but  five  persons  come  in  when  I  was  praying, 
they  would  take  it  for  a  breach  of  good  behavior.  They 
told  me  not,  if  they  came  on  other  business  unexpect- 
edly, and  not  to  a  set  meeting ;  nor  yet  if  we  did  no- 
thing contrary  to  law,  or  the  practice  of  the  church. 
I  told  them  our  innocency  was  not  now  any  security 
to  us.  If  two  beggar  women  did  but  stand  in  the  street 


104 


LIFE  OF  BAXTER. 


and  swear  that  I  spake  contrary  to  the  law,  though 
they  heard  me  not,  my  bonds  and  liberty  were  at  their 
will;  fori  myself,  lying  on  my  bed,  heard  Mr.  I.  R. 
preach  in  a  chapel  on  the  other  side  of  my  chamber, 
and  yet  one  Sibil  Dash  and  Elizabeth  Cappell  swore 
to  the  justices  that  it  was  another  that  preached;  two 
miserable  poor  women  that  made  a  trade  of  it,  and  had 
thus  sworn  against  very  many  worthy  persons  in  Hack- 
ney and  elsewhere,  on  which  their  goods  were  seized 
for  fines.  But  to  all  this  I  received  no  answer.  I  must 
give  bond. 

"  But  all  this  is  so  small  a  part  of  my  suffering,  in 
comparison  of  what  I  bear  in  my  flesh,  that  I  could 
scarce  regard  it ;  and  it  is  small  in  comparison  of  what 
others  suffer.  Many  excellent  persons  die  in  common 
jails :  thousands  are  ruined.  That  holy  humble  man, 
Mr.  Rosewell,  is  now  under  a  verdict  for  death  as  a 
traitor  for  preaching  some  words,  on  the  witness  and 
oath  of  Hilton's  wife,  and  one  or  two  more  women, 
whose  husbands  live  professedly  on  the  trade,  for  which 
he  claims  many  hundred  or  thousand  pounds.  And  not 
only  the  man  declares,  but  many  of  his  hearers  wit- 
ness, that  no  such  words  were  spoken,  nor  any  that  did 
not  become  a  loyal,  prudent  man. 

"December  11,  I  was  forced,  in  all  my  pain  and 
weakness,  to  be  carried  to  the  sessions-house,  or  else 
my  bond  of  four  hundred  pounds  would  have  been 
judged  forfeited.  And  the  more  moderate  justices,  that 
promised  my  discharge,  would  none  of  them  be  there, 
but  left  the  work  to  Sir  William  Smith  and  the  rest, 
who  openly  declared  that  they  had  nothing  against 
me,  and  took  me  for  innocent,  but  yet  I  must  continue 
Lnmuq,  lest  others  should  expect  to  be  discharged  also, 
which  1  openly  refused.  But  my  sureties  would  be 


LIFE  OF  BAXTER. 


105 


bound,  lest  I  should  die  in  jail,  against  my  declared 
will,  and  so  I  must  continue." 

"  January  17.  I  was  forced  again  to  be  carried  to  the 
sessions,  and  after  divers  days  good  words,  which  put 
me  in  expectation  of  freedom,  when  I  was  gone,  one 

justice,  Sir  Deerham,  said  it  was  probable  that 

these  persons  solicited  for  my  liberty  that  they  might 
come  to  hear  me  in  conventicles ;  and  on  that  they 
bound  me  again  in  a  four  hundred  pounds'  bond  for 
above  a  quarter  of  a  year,  and  so  it  is  likely  to  be  till 
I  die,  or  worse ;  though  no  one  ever  accused  me  for 
any  conventicle  or  preaching  since  they  took,  all  my 
books  and  goods  above  two  years  ago,  and  1,  for  the 
most  part,  keep  my  bed." 

His  greatest  trial  was  now  hastening.  His  "Para- 
phrase on  the  New  Testament"  gave  great  offence  in 
certain  quarters,  and  was  made  the  ground  of  a  trial 
for  sedition. 

The  following  account  of  this  extraordinary  trial  and 
its  issue  are  given  by  Calamy,  and  in  a  letter  from  a 
person  who  was  present  on  tlie  occasion : 

"  On  the  28th  of  February  Baxter  was  committed  to 
the  King's-Bench  prison,  by  warrant  of  Lord  Chief 
Justice  Jefferies,  for  his  '  Paraphrase  on  the  New  Tes- 
tament,' which  had  been  printed  a  little  before,  and 
which  was  described  as  a  scandalous  and  seditious 
book  against  the  government.  On  his  commitment  by 
the  chief  justice's  warrant,  he  applied  for  a  Ijabeas 
corpus,  and  having  obtained  it,  he  absconded  into  the 
country  to  avoid  imprisonment,  till  the  term  approacli- 
ed.  He  was  induced  to  do  this  from  the  constant  pain 
he  endured,  and  an  apprehension  that  he  could  not 
bear  the  confinement  of  a  prison. 

"  On  the  6th  of  May,  which  was  the  first  day  of  the 


106 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER, 


term,  he  appeared  in  Westminster-Hal],  and  an  inA)r- 
mation  was  then  drawn  up  against  him.  On  the  14iji 
of  May  he  pleaded  not  guilty  to  the  information.  On 
the  18th  of  the  same  month,  being  much  indisposed,  it 
was  moved  that  he  might  have  further  time  given  him 
before  his  trial,  but  this  was  denied  him.  He  moved 
for  it  by  his  counsel ;  but  Jefferies  cried  out,  in  a  pas- 
sion, '  I  will  not  give  him  a  minute's  time  more,  to  save 
his  life.  We  have  had  to  do,'  said  he,  •  with  other 
sorts  of  persons,  but  now  we  have  a  saint  to  deal  witii ; 
and  I  know  how  to  deal  with  saints  as  well  as  sinners. 
Yonder,'  said  he,  '  stands  Oates  in  the  pillory,'  (as  he 
actually  did  at  that  very  time  in  the  new  Palace  Yard,) 
'  and  he  says  he  suffers  for  the  truth,  and  so  says  Bax- 
ter; but  if  Baxter  did  but  stand  on  the  other  side  of 
the  pillory  with  him,  I  would  say,  two  of  the  greatest 
rogues  and  rascals  in  the  kingdom  stood  there.' 

"  On  May  30,  in  the  afternoon,  Baxter  was  brought 
to  trial  before  the  lord  chief  justice  at  Guild-hall. 
Sir  Henry  Ashurst,  who  would  not  forsake  his  own 
and  his  father's  friend,  stood  by  him  all  the  while. 
Baxter  came  first  into  court,  and  with  all  the  marks 
of  sincerity  and  composure,  waited  for  the  coming  of 
the  lord  chief  justice,  who  appeared  quickly  after,  with 
great  indignation  in  his  face. 

"  '  When  I  saw,'  says  an  eye  witness,  '  the  meek 
man  stand  before  the  flaming  eyes  and  fierce  looks  of 
this  bigot,  I  thought  of  Paul  standing  before  Nero. 
The  barbarous  usage  which  he  received  drew  plenty 
of  tears  from  my  eyes,  as  well  as  from  others  of  the 
auditors  and  spectators. 

"Jefferies  no  sooner  sat  down  than  a  short  cause 
was  called  and  tried ;  after  which  the  clerk  began  to 
read  the  title  of  another  cause.  '  You  blockhead,'  said 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


107 


J«ffcrics,  '  the  next  cause  is  between  Richard  Baxter 
and  the  king:'  upon  wliich  Baxter's  cause  was  called. 

"  On  the  jury  being  sworn,  Baxter  objected  to  them, 
as  incompetent  to  his  trial,  owing  to  its  peculiar  na- 
ture. The  jurymen  being  tradesmen,  and  not  scholars, 
he  alledged  they  were  incapable  of  pronouncing  wheth- 
er his  'Paraphrase'  was  or  was  not  according  to  the 
original  text.  He  therefore  prayed  that  he  might  have 
a  jury  of  learned  men,  though  the  one-half  of  them 
should  be  papists.  This  objection,  as  might  have  been 
expected,  was  overruled  by  the  court. 

"  The  king's  counsel  opened  the  information  at  large, 
with  its  aggravations.  Mr.  Pollexfen,  Mr.  Wallop,  Mr. 
i  Williams,  Mr.  Rotherham,Mr.  Atwood,and  Mr.  Phipps, 
I  were  Baxter's  counsel,  and  had  been  engaged  by  Sir 
Henry  Ashurst. 

"Pollexfen  then  rose  and  addressed  the  court  and 
the  jury.  He  stated  that  he  was  counsel  for  the  pri- 
soner, and  felt  that  he  had  a  very  unusual  plea  to 
manage.  He  had  been  obliged,  he  said,  by  the  nature 
of  the  cause,  to  consult  all  our  learned  commentators, 
many  of  whom,  learned,  pious,  and  belonging  to  the 
church  of  England  too,  concurred  with  Mr.  Baxter  in 
his  paraphrase 'of  those  passages  of  Scripture  which 
were  objected  to  in  the  indictment,  and  by  whose  help 
he  would  be  enabled  to  manage  his  client's  cause.  'I 
shall  begin,'  said  he,  'with  Dr.  Hammond:  and,  gen- 
tlemen, though  Mr.  Baxter  made  an  objection  against 
you,  as  not  fit  judges  of  Creek,  which  has  been  over- 
ruled, I  hope  you  understand  English  common  sense, 
and  can  read.'  To  which  the  foreman  of  the  jury 
made  a  profound  bow,  and  said,  'Yes,  sir,' 

"On  this  the  chief  justice  burst  upon  Pollexfen  like 
h  fury,  and  told  him  he  should  not  sit  there  to  hear 


108 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


him  preach.  'No,  my  lord,-  said  Pollexfen,  'I  am  coiiii 
sel  for  Mr.  Baxter,  and  shall  ofler  nothing  but  what  is 
to  the  point.'  'Why,  this  is  not,*  said  Jefferies,  'that 
you  cant  to  the  jury  beforehand.'  '  I  beg  your  lord- 
ship's pardon,'  said  the  counsel,  'and  f?hall  then  pro- 
ceed to  business.'  '  Come  then,'  said  Jefferies, '  what  do 
you  say  to  this  count?  read  it,  clerk:'  referring  to  the 
paraphrase  on  Mark,  12:  38-40.  'Is  he  not,  novr,  an 
old  knave,  to  interpret  this  as  belonging  to  liturgies?' 
'So  do  others,'  replied  Pollexfen,  'of  the  church  of 
England,  who  would  be  loth  so  to  wrong  the  cause  of 
liturgies  as  to  make  them  a  novel  invention,  or  not  to 
be  able  to  date  them  as  early  as  the  scribes  and  pha- 
risees.'  'No,  no,  Mr.  Pollexfen,'  said  the  judge:  '  they 
were  long-winded,  extempore  prayers,  snch  as  they 
used  to  say  when  they  appropriated  God  to  themselves: 
"Lord,  we  are  thy  people,  thy  peculiar  people,  thy 
dear  people."'  And  then  he  clenched  his  hands  and 
lifted  up  his  eyes,  mimicking  their  manner,  and  run- 
ning on  furiously,  as  he  said  they  used  to  pray.  'Pol- 
lexfen,' said  Jefferies,  '  this  is  an  old  rogue,  who  has 
poisoned  the  w'orid  with  his  Kidderminster  doctrine. 
Don't  we  know  how  he  preached  formerl}^,  "Curse 
yeMeroz;  curse  them  bitterly  that  come  not  to  the 
help  of  the  Lord,  to  the  help  of  the  Lord  against  the 
mighty."  He  encouraged  all  the  women  and  maids 
to  bring  their  bodkins  and  thimbles  to  carry  on  their 
war  against  the  king,  of  ever  blessed  memory.  An  old 
schismatical  knave,  a  hypocritical  villain'.' 

"Mr.  AVallop  said  that  he  conceived  the  matter  de- 
pending being  a  point  of  doctrine,  it  ought  to  be  re- 
ferred to  the  bishop,  his  ordinary:  but  if  not,  he  hum- 
bly conceived  the  doctrine  was  innocent  and  justifiable, 
setting  aside  the  inuendos,  for  which  there  Mas  no 


LIFE  OF  BAXTER. 


109 


color,  there  being  no  antef'edent  to  refer  them  to, 
(i.  e.  no  bishop  or  clergy  of  the  church  of  England 
named;)  he  said  the  book  accused  contained  many 
eternal  truths:  but  they  who  drew  the  information 
were  the  libellers,  in  applying  to  the  prelates  of  tlie 
church  of  England  those  severe  things  which  were 
written  concerning  some  prelates  who  deserved  the 
characters  which  he  gave.  'My  lord,'  said  he,  'I  hum- 
bly conceive  the  bishops  Mr.  Baxter  speaks  of,  as  your 
lordship,  if  you  have  read  church  history,  must  con- 
fess, were  the  plagues  of  the  church  and  of  the  world.' 

"Mr.  Rotherham  urged  'that  if  Mr.  Baxter's  book 
had  sharp  reflections  upon  the  church  of  Rome  by 
name,  but  spake  well  of  the  prelates  of  the  church  of 
England,  it  was  to  be  presumed  that  the  sharp  reflec- 
tions were  intended  only  against  the  prelates  of  the 
church  of  Rome.'  The  lord  chief  justice  said,  'Baxter 
was  an  enemy  to  the  name  and  thing,  the  ofl^ce  and 
persons  of  bishops.'  Rotherham  added,  that  Baxter 
frequently  attended  divine  service,  went  to  the  sacra- 
ment, and  persuaded  others  to  do  so  too,  as  was  cer- 
tainly and  publicly  known;  and  had,  in  the  very  book 
so  charged,  spoken  very  moderately  and  honorably  of 
thr  bishops  of  the  church  of  England.' 

"  Baxter  added,  'My  lord,  I  have  been  so  moderate 
with  respect  to  the  cluirch  of  England,  that  I  have  in- 
curred the  censure  of  many  of  the  dissenters  upon  that 
account.'  'Baxter  for  bishops!'  exclaimed  Jefferies, 
'  that  is  a  merry  conceit  indeed  :  turn  to  it,  turn  to  it. 
Upon  this  Rotherham  turned  to  a  place  where  it  is 
said  'that  great  respect  is  due  to  those  truly  called  to 
be  hishops  among  us;  or  to  that  purpose.  'Ay,'  said 
Jefferies,  'this  is  your  Presbyterian  cant;  truly  called 
Ui  nf  bishops:  that  is  himself,  and  such  rascals,  called 
I,.  B.  10 


HO 


tlFE  OF  -BAXTER. 


10  be  bishops  of  Kidderminster,  and  other  such  places. 
Bishops  set  apart  by  such  factious  Presbyterians  as 
himself:  a  Kidderminster  bishop  he  means. ' 

Baxter  beginning  to  speak  again,  Jefferies  reviled 
liim;  'Richard,  Richard,  dost  thou  think  we'll  hear 
lliee  poison  the  court?  Richard,  thou  art  an  old  fellow, 
an  old  knave ;  thou  hast  written  books  enough  to  load 
a  cart,  every  one  as  full  of  sedition,  I  might  say  trea- 
son, as  an  egg  is  of  meat.  Hadst  thou  been  whipped 
out  of  thy  writing  trade  forty  years  ago,  it  had  been 
happy.  Thou  pretendest  to  be  a  preacher  of  the  Gospel 
of  peace,  and  thou  hast  one  foot  in  the  grave:  it  is 
lime  for  thee  to  begin  to  think  what  account  thou  ia- 
lendest  to  give.  But,  leave  thee  to  thyself,  and  I  see 
thou'lt  go  on  as  thou  hast  begun  ;  but,  by  the  grace  of 
God,  I'll  look  after  thee.  I  know  thou  l»ast  a  mighty 
party,  and  I  see  a  great  many  of  the  brotherhood  in 
corners,  waiting  to  see  what  will  become  of  their 
mighty  don ;  and  a  doctor  of  the  party  (looking  at  Dr. 
Bates)  at  your  elbow  ;  but,  by  the  grace  of  Almighty 
God,  I'll  crush  you  all.  Come,  what  do  you  say  for 
yourself,  you  old  knave ?  come,  speak  up!  What  doth 
he  say?  I  am  not  afraid  of  you,  for  all  the  snivelling 
calves  you  have  about  you :'  alluding  to  some  persons 
who  were  in  tears  about  Mr.  Baxter.  'Your  lordship 
need  not  be,'  said  the  holy  man  ;  'for  I'll  not  hurt  you. 
But  these  things  will  surely  be  understood  one  day  • 
what  fools  one  sort  of  protestants  are  made  to  perse- 
cute the  other !'  And,  lifting  up  his  eyes  to  heaven,  he 
said,  '  I  am  not  concerned  to  answer  such  stuff ;  but 
am  ready  to  produce  my  writings  for  the  confutation 
of  all  this;  and  my  life  and  conversation  are  known 
to  many  in  this  nation.' 
"  Mr.  Rotherham  sitting  down,  Mr.  Atwood  began 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


lU 


to  show  that  not  one  of  the  passages  mentioned  in  the 
information  ought  to  be  strained  to  the  sense  which 
was  put  upon  them  by  the  inuendos;  they  being  more 
natural  when  taken  in  a  milder  sense:  nor  could  any 
one  of  them  be  applied  to  the  prelates  of  the  church 
of  England,  without  a  very  forced  construction.  To 
prove  this,  he  would  have  read  some  of  the  text:  but 
Jefferies  cried  out,  'You  shan't  draw  me  into  a  con- 
venticle with  your  annotations,  nor  your  snivelling 
parson  neither.'  '  My  lord,'  said  Mr.  Atwood,  '  that  I 
may  use  the  best  authority,  permit  me  to  repeat  your 
lordship's  own  words  in  that  case.'  'No,  you  shan't,' 
said  he:  'you  need  not  speak,  for  you  are  an  author 
already ;  though  you  speak  and  write  impertinently.' 
Atwood  replied,  '  I  can't  help  that,  my  lord,  if  my 
talent  be  no  better;  but  it  is  my  duty  to  do  my  best 
for  my  client.' 

"  Jefferies  then  went  on  inveighing  against  what 
Atwood  had  published  ;  and  Atwood  justified  it  as  in 
defence  of  the  English  constitution,  declaring  that  he 
never  disowned  any  thing  that  he  had  written  Jef- 
feries several  times  ordered  him  to  sit  down;  but  he 
still  went  on.  'My  lord,'  said  he,  'I  have  matter  of 
law  to  urge  for  my  client.'  He  then  proceeded  to  cite 
several  cases  wherein  it  had  been  adjudged  that  words 
ought  to  be  taken  in  the  milder  sense,  and  not  to  be 
strained  by  inuendos,  'Well,'  said  Jefferies,  when  he 
had  done,  '  you  have  had  your  say.' 

"  Mr.  Williams  and  Mr.  Phipps  said  nothing,  for 
they  saw  it  was  to  no  purpose.  At  last  Baxter  himself 
said,  '  My  lord,  I  think  I  can  clearly  answer  all  that  is 
laid  to  my  charge,  and  I  shall  do  it  briefly.  The  sum 
is  contained  in  these  few  papers,  to  which  I  shall  add 
a  little  by  testimony '  But  he  would  not  hear  a  word. 


112 


LIFE  OF  BAXTER. 


At  length  the  chief  justice  summed  up  tlie  matter  in 
a  long  and  fulsome  harangue,  'it  was  notoriously 
known,'  he  said,  '  there  had  been  a  design  to  ruin  the 
king  and  the  nation.  The  old  game  had  been  renewed  ; 
and  this  person  had  been  the  main  incendiary.  He  is 
as  modest  now  as  can  be  ;  but  time  was,  when  no  man 
was  so  ready  at,  "  Bind  your  kings  in  chains,  and  your 
nobles  in  fetters  of  iron and,  '•  To  your  tents,  O 
Israel."  Gentlemen,  (with  an  oath,)  don't  let  us  be 
gulled  twice  in  an  age.'  And  when  he  concluded,  he 
told  the  jury  '  that  if  they  in  their  consciences  be- 
lieved he  meant  the  bishops  and  clergy  of  the  church 
of  England  in  the  passages  which  the  information  re- 
ferred to,  and  he  could  mean  nothing  else,  they  must 
find  him  guilty.  If  not,  they  must  find  him  not  guilty." 
When  he  had  done,  Baxter  said  to  him,  '  Does  your 
lordship  think  any  jury  will  pretend  to  pass  a  verdict 
upon  me  upon  such  a  trial  ?'  '  I'll  warrant  you,  Mr. 
Baxter,'  said  he, '  don't  you  trouble  yourself  about  that.' 

"  The  jury  immediately  laid  their  heads  together  at 
the  bar,  and  found  him  guilty.  As  he  was  .going  from 
the  bar,  Baxter  told  the  lord  chief  justice,  who  had 
so  loaded  him  with  reproaches,  and  still  continued 
them,  that  a  predecessor  of  his  had  had  other  thoughts 
of  him;  upon  which  he  replied,  'that  there  was  not 
an  honest  man  in  England  but  what  look  him  for  a 
great  knave.'  Baxter  had  subpoenaed  several  clergy- 
men, who  appeared  in  court,  but  were  of  no  use  to 
him,  through  the  violence  of  the  chief  justice.  Th:; 
trial  being  over,  Sir  Henry  Ashurst  led  him  througu 
the  crowd,  and  conveyed  him  away  in  his  coach." 

This  is  a  faithful  portrait  of  Jefferies,  who  furnish- 
ed Bunyan  with  the  features  of  his  cliief  justice,  iho 
Lord  Hategood,  Can  we  be  insensible  to  the  mercies 


LIFE  OF  BAXTER. 


113 


we  enjoy  in  the  very  different  administration  of  justice 
ill  our  own  times  ? 

"  On  the  2Sth  of  June  Baxter  had  judgment  given 
against  him.  He  was  fined  five  hundred  marks,  con- 
demned to  lie  in  prison  till  he  paid  it,  and  bound  to 
his  good  behavior  for  seven  years.  It  is  said  that  Jef- 
feries  proposed  a  corporal  punishment,  namely,  whip- 
ping through  the  city;  but  his  brethren  would  not  ac- 
cede to  it.  In  consequence  of  which  the  fine  and  im- 
prisonment were  agreed  to. 

"  Baxter  being  unable  to  pay  the  fine,  and  aware 
that,  though  he  did,  he  might  soon  be  prosecuted  again, 
on  some  equally  unjust  pretence,  went  to  prison.  Here 
he  was  visited  by  his  friends,  and  even  by  some  of  the 
respectable  clergy  of  the  church,  who  sympathised 
with  his  sufferings  and  deplored  the  injustice  he  re- 
ceived. He  continued  in  this  imprisonment  nearly 
two  years,  during  which  he  enjoyed  more  quietness 
than  he  had  done  for  many  years  before. 

"  An  imprisonment  of  two  years  would  have  been 
found  very  trying  and  irksome  to  most  men  ;  to  Bax- 
ter, however,  it  does  not  appear  to  have  pro  /ed  so  pain- 
ful, though  he  had  now  lost  his  beloved  wife,  who  had 
frequently  before  been  his  companion  in  solitude  and 
suffering.  His  friends  do  not  appear  to  have  neglected 
or  forgotten  him.  The  following  extract  of  a  letter  from 
the  well  known  Matthew  Henry,  presents  a  pleasing 
view  of  the  manner  in  which  he  endured  bonds  and 
afflictions  for  Christ's  sake.  It  is  addressed  to  his  fa- 
ther, and  dated  the  17th  of  November,  1685,  when 
Baxter  had  been  several  months  confined.  Mr.  Wil- 
liams justly  remarks,  '  It  is  one  of  those  pictures  of 
days  which  are  past,  which,  if  rightly  viewed,  " 
produce  lasting  and  beneficial  effects;  emotions  of  sa* 

L.  B.  IQ* 


114 


LIFE  OF  BAXTER. 


cied  sorrow  for  the  iniquity  of  persecution,  and  ani- 
mating praise  that  the  demon  in  these  happy  days  of 
iranquillity  is  restrained,  though  not  destroyed.' 

"  '  1  went  into  Southwark,  to  Mr.  Baxter.  I  was  to 
wait  upon  him  once  before,  and  tiien  he  was  busy.  1 
found  him  in  pretty  comfortable  circumstances,  though 
a  prisoner,  in  a  private  house  near  the  prison,  attended 
by  his  own  man  and  maid.  My  good  friend  Mr.  Samuel 
Lawrence  went  with  me.  He  is  in  as  good  health  as 
one  can  expect ;  and,  methini^s,  looks  better,  and  speaks 
heartier,  than  when  I  saw  him  last.  The  token  you 
sent  he  would  by  no  means  be  persuaded  to  accept 
(and  was  almost  angry  when  I  pressed  it)  from  one 
ejected  as  well  as  himself.  He  said  he  did  not  use  to 
receive;  and  I  understand  since,  his  need  is  not  great. 

We  sat  with  him  about  an  hour.  He  gave  us  some 
good  counsel  to  prepare  for  trials,  and  said  the  best 
preparation  for  them  was  a  life  of  faith  and  a  constant 
course  of  self-denial.  He  thought  it  harder  constantly 
to  deny  temptations  to  sensual  appetites  and  pleasures, 
than  to  resist  one  single  temptation  to  deny  Christ  for 
fear  of  suffering;  the  former  requiring  such  constant 
watchfulness ;  however,  after  the  former,  the  latter  will 
be  the  easier.  He  said,  we  who  are  young  are  apt  to 
count  upon  great  things,  but  we  must  not  look  for 
them  ;  and  much  more  to  this  purpose.  He  said  he 
thought  dying  by  sickness  usually  much  more  painful 
and  dreadful  than  dying  a  violent  death,  especially 
considering  the  extraordinary  supports  which  those 
have  who  suffer  for  righteousness'  sake." 

Various  cff'orts  were  made  by  his  friends  to  have  his 
fine  rei]iitled,  which,  after  considerable  delay,  was  ac- 
complished. 

"  Oa  the  24ih  of  ANovember,  1686,  Sir  Samuel  Asirey 


LIFE  OF  BAXTER. 


115 


sent  his  warrant  to  the  keeper  of  the  King's  Bench 
prison  to  discharge  Baxter.  He  gave  sureties,  how- 
ever, for  his  good  behavior,  liis  majesty  declaring,  for 
his  satisfaction,  that  it  should  not  be  interpreted  a 
breach  of  good  behavior  for  him  to  reside  in  London, 
which  was  not  inconsistent  with  the  Oxford  act.  After 
this  release  he  continued  to  live  some  time  within  tlie 
rules  of  the  Bench  ;  till,  on  the  28th  of  February,  1687, 
he  removed  to  his  house  in  the  Charterhouse-yard ; 
and  again,  as  far  as  his  health  would  permit,  assisted 
Mr.  Sylvester  in  his  public  labors." 

"Afier  his  injurious  confinement,"  says  his  friend. 
Sylvester,  in  the  funeral  sermon  which  he  preached 
for  Baxter,  "  he  settled  in  Charterhouse-yard,  in  Rut- 
landhouse,  and  bestowed  his  ministerial  assistance  gra- 
tis upon  me.  Thereupon  he  attended  every  Lord's  day 
in  the  morning,  and  every  other  Thursday  morning  at 
a  weekly  lecture.  Thus  were  we  yoked  together  in 
our  ministerial  work  and  trust,  to  our  great  mutual  sa- 
tisfaction; and  because  his  respects  to  me,  living  and 
dying,  were  very  great,  I  cannot  but  the  more  feel  the 
loss.  I  had  the  benefit  and  pleasure  of  always  free  ac- 
cess to  him,  and  instant  conversation  with  him  ;  and 
by  whom  could  I  profit  more  than  by  himself?  So 
ready  was  he  to  communicate  his  thoughts  to  me,  and 
so  clearly  would  he  represent  them,  as  that  I  may  truly 
say,  it  was  greatly  my  own  fault  if  he  left  me  not 
wiser  than  he  found  me,  at  all  times. 

"  After  he  had  continued  with  me  about  four  years 
and  a  half  he  was  disabled  from  going  forth  to  his  mi- 
nisterial work;  so  that  what  he  did  he  performed  for 
the  residue  of  his  life  in  his  own  hired  house,  where 
he  opened  his  doors,  morning  and  evening,  every  day, 
to  all  that  would  come  to  join  in  family  worship  with 


116 


tiFE  or  BAXTER. 


him;  to  whom  he  read  the  Holy  Scriptures,  from 
whence  he  '  preached  the  kingdom  of  God,  and  taught 
those  things  which  concern  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
with  all  confidence,  no  man  forbidding  him,'  Acts, 
28  :  30,  31,  even  as  one  greater  than  himself  had  done 
before  him.  But,  alas,  his  growing  diseases  and  in- 
firmities soon  forbade  this  also,  confining  him  first  to 
his  chamber,  and  after  to  his  bed.  There,  through 
pain  and  sickness,  his  body  wasted ;  but  his  soul  abode 
rational,  strong  in  faith  and  hope,  preserving  itself  in 
that  patience,  hope,  and  joy,  through  grace,  which 
gave  him  great  support,  and  kept  out  doubts  and  fears 
concerning  his  eternal  welfare." 

He  still  labored  with  his  pen.  Even  on  the  vary 
bordersof  eternity  he  was  desirous  to  improve  the  fleet- 
ing moments.  "  He  continued  to  preach,"  Dr.  Bates 
observes,  in  his  funeral  discourse,  "so  long,  notwith- 
standing his  wasted,  languishing  body,  that  the  last 
time  he  almost  died  in  the  pulpit.  Not  long  after,  he 
felt  the  approaches  of  death,  and  was  confined  to  his 
sick-bed.  Death  reveals  the  secrets  of  the  heart;  then 
words  are  spoken  with  most  feeling  and  least  affecta- 
tion. This  excellent  man  was  the  same  in  his  life  and 
death  ;  his  last  hours  were  spent  in  preparing  others 
and  himself  to  appear  before  God.  He  said  to  his 
friends  that  visited  him,  '  You  come  hither  to  learn 
to  die;  I  am  not  the  only  person  that  must  go  this 
way.  I  can  assure  you  that  your  whole  life,  be  it  ever 
so  long,  is  little  enou.^h  to  prepare  for  death.  Have  a 
care  of  this  vain,  deceitful  world,  and  the  lusts  of  the 
flesh  ;  be  sure  you  choose  God  for  your  portion,  hea- 
ven for  your  home,  God's  glory  for  your  end,  his  word 
for  your  rule,  and  then  you  need  never  fear  but  wo 
shall  meet  with  comfort.' 


LIFE  OF  BAXTER. 


117 


"  Never  was  penitent  sinner  more  humble,  never  was 
a  sincere  believer  more  calm  and  comfortable.  lie  ac- 
knowledged himself  to  be  the  vilest  dunghill  worm 
(it  was  his  usual  expression)  that  ever  went  to  heaven. 
He  admired  the  divine  condescension  to  us,  often  say- 
ing, '  Lord,  what  is  man ;  what  am  I,  vile  worm,  to  the 
great  God !'  Many  times  he  prayed,  '  God  be  merciful 
to  me  a  sinner,'  and  blessed  God  that  this  was  left  upon 
record  in  the  Gospel  as  an  effectual  prayer.  He  said, 
'  God  may  justly  condemn  me  for  the  best  duty  I  ever 
did;  all  my  hopes  are  from  the  free  mercy  of  God  in 
Christ,'  which  he  often  prayed  for. 

"  After  a  slumber,  he  waked,  and  said,  '  I  shall  rest 
from  my  labor.'  A  minister  then  present  said,  '  And 
your  works  will  follow  you.'  To  whom  he  replied, 
*No  works;  I  will  leave  out  works,  if  God  will  grant 
me  the  other.'  When  a  friend  was  comforting  him 
with  the  remembrance  of  the  good  many  had  received 
by  his  preaching  and  writings,  he  said,  'I  was  but  a 
pen  in  God's  hands,  and  what  praise  is  due  to  a  pen?' 

"  His  resignation  to  the  will  of  God  in  his  sharp 
sickness  was  eminent.  When  extremity  of  pain  con- 
strained him  earnestly  to  pray  to  God  for  his  release 
by  death,  he  would  check  himself:  '  It  is  not  fit  for  me 
to  prescribe — when  Thou  wilt,  what  Thou  wilt,  how 
Thou  wilt.' 

"  Being  in  great  anguish,  he  said,  '  O,  liow  unsearch- 
able are  His  ways,  and  his  paths  past  finding  out ;  the 
depths  of  his  providence  we  cannot  fathom  !'  And  to 
his  friends,  'Do  not  think  the  worse  of  religion  for 
what  yon  see  me  suffer.' 

"  Being  often  asked  by  his  friends,  how  it  was  with 
his  inward  man,  he  replied,  '  I  bless  God  I  have  a  well- 
grounded  assurance  of  my  eternal  happiness,  and  great 


118 


LIFE  OF  BAXTER. 


peace  and  comfort  within.'  But  it  was  his  regret  that 

he  could  not  triumphantly  express  it,  by  reason  of  his 
extreme  pains.  He  said,  '  Flesh  must  perish,  and  we 
must  feel  the  perishing  of  it ;  and  that  though  his  judg- 
ment submitted,  yet  sense  would  still  make  him  groan.' 

"  Being  asked  whether  lie  had  not  great  joy  from  his 
believing  apprehensions  of  the  invisible  state,  he  re- 
plied, 'What  else,  think  you,  Christianity  serves  for?' 
He  said,  the  consideration  of  the  Deity  in  his  glory  and 
greatness  was  too  high  for  our  thought ;  but  the  consi- 
deration of  the  Son  of  God  in  our  nature,  and  of  the 
saints  in  heaven,  whom  he  knew  and  loved,  did  much 
sweeten  and  familiarize  heaven  to  him.  The  descrip- 
tion of  it,  in  Heb.  12  :  22-24,  was  most  animating  to 
him  ;  'that  he  was  going  to  the  innumerable  company 
of  angels,  and  to  the  general  assembly  and  church  of 
the  first-born,  whose  names  are  written  in  heaven ; 
and  to  God,  the  Judge  of  all,  and  to  the  spirits  of  just 
men  made  perfect,  and  to  Jesus  the  Mediator  of  the  new 
covenant,  and  to  the  blood  of  sprinkling  that  speakelh 
better  things  than  the  blood  of  Abel'  That  scripture, 
he  said,  deserved  a  thousand  thousand  thoughts.  O, 
how  comfortable  is  that  promise  ;  '  Eye  hath  not  seen, 
nor  ear  heard,  neither  have  entered  into  the  heart  of 
man,  the  things  which  God  hath  prepared  for  them 
that  love  him.'  At  another  time  he  said  that  he  found 
great  comfort  and  sweetness  in  repeating  the  words  of 
the  Lord's  prayer,  and  was  sorry  some  good  people 
were  prejudiced  against  the  use  of  it.  for  there  were  all 
necessary  petitions  for  soul  and  body  contained  in  it. 
At  other  times  he  gave  excellent  counsel  to  young  mi- 
nisters that  visited  him  ;  earnestly  prayed  God  to  bless 
their  labors,  and  make  them  very  successful  in  con- 
verting souls  to  Christ ;  expressed  great  joy  in  th« 


tlFE  or  BAXTER.  119 

hope  that  God  would  do  a  great  deal  of  good  by  them  ; 
and  that  they  were  of  moderate,  peaceful  spirits. 

"He  often  prayed  that  God  would  be  merciful  to 
this  miserable,  distracted  world  ;  and  that  he  would 
preserve  his  church  and  interest  in  it.  He  advised  his 
friends  to  beware  of  self-conceit,  as  a  sin  that  was 
likely  to  ruin  this  nation  ;  and  said,  'I  have  written  a 
book  against  it,  which  I  am  afraid  has  done  little  good.' 
Being  asked  whether  he  had  altered  his  mind  on  con- 
troversial points,  lie  said,  those  that  pleased  might 
know  his  mind  in  his  writings ;  and  that  what  he  iiad 
done  was  not  for  his  own  reputation,  but  for  the  glory 
of  God. 

"I  went  to  him,  with  a  very  worthy  friend,  Mr.  Ma- 
ther, of  New-England,  the  day  before  he  died ;  and 
speaking  some  comforting  words  to  him,  he  replied, '  I 
liave  pain;  there  is  no  arguing  against  sense;  but  I 
have  peace,  I  have  peace.'  I  said,  you  are  now  ap- 
proaching your  long-desired  home;  he  answered,  'I 
believe,  I  believe.'  He  said  to  Mr.  Mather,  '  I  bless 
God  that  you  have  accomplished  your  business ;  the 
Lord  prolong  your  life.'  He  expressed  his  great  wil- 
lingness to  die  ;  and  during  his  sickness,  wlien  the 
question  was  asked,  '  How  he  did  ?'  his  reply  was, 
'  Almost  well.'  His  joy  was  most  remarkable,  w  hen,  in 
his  own  apprehension,  death  was  nearest ;  and  his  spi- 
ritual joy  was  at  length  consummated  in  eternal  joy." 

"As  to  himself,  even  to  the  last,"  says  Mr.  Sylvester, 
"  I  never  could  perceive  his  peace  and  heavenly  hopes 
assaulted  or  disturbed.  I  have  often  heard  him  greatly 
lament  that  he  felt  no  greater  liveliness  in  what  ap- 
peared so  great  and  clear  to  him,  and  so  very  much 
desired  by  him.  As  to  the  influence  thereof  upon  his 
spirit,  in  order  to  the  sensible  refreshment  of  it,  he 


120 


LIFE  OF  BAXTER. 


clearly  saw  what  ground  he  had  to  rejoice  In  God  ;  he 
doubted  not  of  his  title  to  heaven,  through  the  merits 
of  Christ.  He  told  jne  he  knew  it  would  be  well  with 
him  when  lie  was  gone.  He  wondered  to  hear  others 
speak  oi  their  so  passionately  strong  desires  to  die,  and 
of  their  transports  of  spirit  when  sensible  of  their  ap- 
proaching  death,  as  he  did  not  so  vividly  feel  their 
strong  consolations.  But  when  I  asked  him  whether 
much  of  this  was  not  to  be  resolved  into  bodily  con- 
stitution, he  said  it  might  be  so.  The  heavenly  state 
was  the  object  of  his  severe  and  daily  thoughts  and 
solemn  contemplations;  for  he  set  some  time  apart 
every  day  for  that  weighty  work.  He  knew  that  nei- 
ther grace  nor  duty  could  be  duly  exercised  without 
serious  meditation.  And  as  he  was  a  scribe  instructed 
into  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  so  he  both  could  and  did 
draw  forth  out  of  his  treasures  things  new  and  old,  to 
his  own  satisfaction  and  advantage,  as  well  as  to  the 
benefit  of  others." 

"  He  had  frequently,  before  his  death,  owned  to  me 
his  continuance  in  the  same  sentiments  that  he  had  ex- 
hibited to  the  world  in  his  polemic  discourses,  especial- 
ly about  justification,  and  the  covenants  of  works  and 
grace,  &c.  And  being  asked,  at  my  request,  whether 
lie  had  changed  his  former  thoughts  about  those  things, 
his  answer  was,  that  he  had  told  the  world  suffi- 
ciently his  judgment  concerning  ihe.Ti  by  words  and 
writing,  and  thither  he  referred  men.  And  then  lifting 
up  his  eyes  to  heaven,  he  uttered  these  words,  '  Lord, 
pity,  pity,  pity  the  ignorance  of  this  poor  city.' 

"On  Monday,  the  day  before  his  death,  a  great 
trembling  and  coldness  awakened  nature,  and  extorted 
strong  cries  for  pity  from  Heaven  ;  which  cries  and 
agony  continued  for  some  time,  till  at  length  he  ceas- 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


121 


ed  those  cries,  and  so  lay  in  a  patient  expectation  of  his 
change.  And  being  once  asked  by  his  faithful  friend 
and  constant  attendant  upon  him  in  his  weakness, 
worthy  and  faithful  Mrs.  Bushel,  his  housekeeper, 
whether  he  knew  her  or  no,  requesting  some  signifi- 
cation of  it  if  he  did,  he  softly  said,  'Death,  death  !' 
And  now  he  felt  the  benefit  of  his  former  preparations 
for  such  a  trying  hour.  And,  indeed,  the  last  words  that 
he  spake  to  me,  being  informed  that  I  was  come  to  see 
liim,  were  these,  'O,  I  thank  him,  I  thank  him  j'  and 
turning  his  eyes  to  me,  he  said,  '  The  Lord  teach  you 
to  die.' " 

"  On  Tuesday  morning,  about  four  o'clock,  Decem- 
ber 8th,  1691,  he  expired  ;  though  he  expected  and  de- 
sired his  dissolution  to  have  been  on  the  Lord's  day 
before,  which,  with  joy,  to  me  he  called  a  high  day,  be- 
cause of  his  desired  change  expected  then  by  him." 

A  report  was  quickly  spread  abroad  after  his  death, 
that  he  was  exercised  on  his  dying  bed  with  doubts 
respecting  the  truths  of  religion,  and  his  own  personal 
safety,  which  report  Mr.  Sylvester  thus  refutes  : 

"  Of  what  absurdity  will  not  degenerate  man  be 
guilty!  We  know  nothing  here  that  could,  in  the 
least,  minister  to  such  a  report  as  this.  I  that  was  with 
him  all  along,  have  ever  heard  him  triumphing  in  his 
heavenly  expectation,  and  ever  speaking  like  one  that 
could  never  have  thought  it  worth  a  man's  while  to  be, 
were  it  not  for  the  great  interest  and  ends  of  godliness. 
He  told  me  that  he  doubted  not  but  it  would  be  best 
for  him,  when  he  had  left  this  life  and  was  translated 
to  the  heavenly  regions. 

"  He  owned  what  he  had  written,  with  reference  to 
the  things  of  God,  to  the  very  last.  He  advised  those 
that  came  near  him^  carefully  to  mind  their  soul's  con- 

L.  B.  11 


LITE  or  BAXTER. 


cerns.  T'le  shortness  of  time,  the  importance  of  eter« 
iiily.  the  worth  of  souls,  the  greatness  of  God,  the 
riches  of  the  grace  of  Christ,  the  excellenc}'  and  im- 
port of  an  lieavenly  mind  and  life,  and  the  great  use- 
fulness of  the  word  and  means  of  grace  pursuant  to 
eternal  purposes,  ever  lay  pressingly  npon  liis  own 
lieart,  and  extorted  from  liim  very  useful  directions 
and  encouragements  to  all  that  came  near  liim,  even 
to  the  last;  insomuch  that  if  a  polemical  or  casuistical 
point,  or  any  speculation  on  philosophy  or  divinity, 
had  been  but  offered  to  him  for  his  resolution,  after 
the  clearest  and  briefest  representation  of  his  mind 
which  the  proposer's  satisfaction  called  for,  he  present- 
ly and  most  delightfully  fell  into  conversation  about 
what  related  to  our  Christian  hope  and  work." 

"Baxter  was  buried  in  Christ-church,  London,  where 
the  ashes  of  his  wife  and  her  mother  had  been  deposit- 
ed. His  funeral  was  attended  by  a  great  number  of 
persons  of  different  ranks,  especially  of  ministers,  con- 
formists as  well  as  nonconformists,  who  were  eager 
to  testify  their  respect  for  one  of  whom  it  might  have 
been  said  with  equal  truth,  as  of  the  intrepid  reformer 
of  the  north,  'There  lies  the  man  who  never  feared 
the  face  of  man.'" 

In  his  last  will,  made  two  years  before  his  death,  he 
says,  "  I,  Richard  Baxter,  of  London,  clerk,  an  un- 
worthy servant  of  Jesus  Christ,  drawing  to  the  end  of 
this  transitory  life,  having,  through  God's  great  mercy, 
the  free  use  of  my  understanding,  do  make  this  my 
last  will  and  testament,  revoking  all  other  wills  for- 
merly made  by  me.  My  spirit  I  commit,  with  trust 
and  hope  of  the  heavenly  felicity,  into  the  hands  of 
Jesus,  my  glorified  Redeemer  and  Intercessor  ;  and, 
bv  his  mediation,  into  the  hands  of  God  my  reconcil- 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


123 


ed  Father,  the  infinite  eternal  Spirit,  Light,  Life,  and 
Love,  most  great,  and  wise,  and  good,  the  God  of  na- 
ture, grace,  and  glory  ;  of  whom,  and  through  whom, 
and  to  whom  are  all  things ;  my  absolute  Owner,  Ru- 
ler, Benefactor,  whose  I  am,  and  whom  I,  though  im- 
perfectly, serve,  seek,  and  trust;  to  whom  be  glory  for 
ever,  amen.  To  him  I  render  the  most  humble  thanks, 
that  he  hath  filled  up  my  life  with  abundant  mercy, 
and  pardoned  my  sins  by  the  merits  of  Christ,  and 
vouchsafed,  by  his  Spirit,  to  renew  me  and  seal  me  as 
his  own  ;  and  to  moderate  and  bless  to  me  my  long 
sufferings  in  the  flesh,  and  at  last  to  sweeten  them  by 
his  own  interest  and  comforting  approbation."  He 
bequeathed  his  books  to  "poor  scholars,"  and  the  resi- 
due of  his  property  to  the  poor. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

HIS  PERSON — VIEWS  OF  HIMSELF,  AND  GENERAL 
CHARACTER. 

Having  proceeded  to  the  grave,  and  committed  his 
"  remains  to  their  long  and  final  resting-place,  it  will 
be  proper  to  present  the  views  which  were  formed  of 
his  character,  both  by  himself  and  friends. 

"His  person,"  Mr.  Sylvester  states,  "was  tall  and 
slender,  and  stooped  much;  his  countenance  composed 
and  grave,  somewhat  inclining  to  smile.  He  had  a 
piercing  eye,  a  very  articulate  speech,  and  his  deport- 
ment rather  plain  than  complimentaJ.  He  had  a  great 


124 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


command  over  his  tlioughts.  His  ciiaracter  answered 
the  description  given  of  him  by  a  learned  man  dis- 
senting from  him,  after  discourse  with  him  ;  that  '  he 
could  say  what  he  would,  and  he  could  prove  what  he 
said.' 

Some  few  years  before  his  death,  Baxter  took  a  mi- 
nute and  extensive  survey  of  liis  own  character,  and 
committed  it  to  paper.  From  this  paper  the  following 
extracts  are  taken  : — 

As  it  is  soui-experiments  which  those  that  urge  me 
to  this  kind  of  writing  expect  I  should  especially  com- 
municate to  others,  and  I  have  said  little  of  God's  deal- 
ing with  my  soul  since  the  time  of  my  younger  years, 
1  shall  only  give  the  reader  what  is  necessary  to  ac- 
quaint him  truly  what  change  God  has  made  upon  my 
mind  and  heart  since  those  earlier  times,  and  wherein 
I  now  differ  in  judgment  and  disposition  from  my  for- 
mer self.  And,  for  any  more  particular  account  of 
heart-occurrences,  and  God's  operations  on  me,  I  think 
it  somewhat  unsuitable  to  recite  them ;  seeing  God's 
dealings  are  much  the  same  with  all  his  servants  in  the 
main,  and  the  points  wherein  he  varieth  are  usually  so 
small,  that  I  think  such  not  proper  to  be  repeated.  Nor 
have  I  any  thing  extraordinary  to  glory  in,  which  is 
not  common  to  the  rest  of  my  brethren,  who  have  the 
same  Spirit,  and  are  servants  of  the  same  Lord.  Ana 
the  true  reason  why  I  do  adventure  so  far  upon  the 
censure  of  the  world  as  to  tell  them  wherein  the  case 
is  altered  with  me,  is,  that  I  may  prevent  young  inex- 
perienced Christians  from  being  over-confident  in  their 
first  apprehensions,  or  overvaluing  their  first  degrees 
of  grace,  or  too  much  applauding  and  following  unfur- 
nished inexperienced  men,  and  that  they  may  be  in 
some  measure  directed  what  mind  and  course  of  life  to 


LIFE  OF  BAXTER. 


125 


prefer,  by  the  judgment  of  one  that  has  tried  both  be- 
fore them. 

"  The  temper  of  my  mind  has  somewhat  altered 
with  the  temper  of  my  body.  When  I  was  young,  1 
was  more  vigorous,  afteclionate,  and  fervent  in  preach- 
ing, conference,  and  prayer,  than  ordinarily  I  can  be 
now  ;  my  style  was  more  extemporary  and  lax,  but  by 
the  advantage  of  affection,  and  a  very  familiar  moving 
voice  and  utterance,  my  preaching  then  did  more  affect 
the  auditory  than  many  of  the  last  years  before  I  gave 
over  preaching  ;  but  yet  what  I  delivered  was  much 
more  raw,  and  had  more  passages  that  would  not  bear 
the  trial  of  accurate  judgments,  and  my  discourses 
had  both  less  substance  and  less  judgment  than  of  late. 

"in  my  younger  years  my  trouble  for  sin  was  most 
about  my  actual  failings,  in  lliought,  word,  or  action; 
now  I  am  much  more  troubled  for  inward  defects,  and 
omission  or  want  of  the  vital  duties  or  graces  in  the 
soul.  My  daily  trouble  is  so  much  for  my  ignorance 
of  God,  and  weakness  of  belief,  and  want  of  greater 
love  to  God,  and  strangeness  to  him  and  to  the  life  to 
come,  and  want  of  a  greater  willingness  to  die,  and  oi 
a  longing  to  be  with  God  in  heaven, — that  I  take  not 
some  immoralities,  though  very  great,  to  be  in  them- 
selves so  great  and  odious  sins,  if  iliey  could  be  found  se- 
parate from  these.  Had  I  all  the  riches  of  the  world, 
how  gladly  should  I  give  them  for  a  fuller  knowledge, 
belief,  and  love  of  God  and  everlasting  glory  !  These 
wants  are  the  greatest  burdens  of  my  life,  which 
often  make  my  life  itself  a  burden.  And  I  cannot  find 
any  hope  of  reaching  so  high  in  these  while  1  am  in 
the  flesh,  as  I  once  hoped  before  this  time  to  have  at- 
tained ;  which  makes  me  the  more  weary  of  this  sinful 


126 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


world,  which  is  honored  with  so  little  of  the  know 
ledge  of  God. 

"  Heretofore  I  placed  much  of  niy  religion  in  ten- 
derness of  heart,  and  grieving  for  sin,  and  penitential 
tears;  and  less  of  it  in  the  love  of  God,  and  studying 
his  love  and  goodness,  and  in  his  joyful  praises,  than 
I  now  do.  Then  I  was  little  sensible  of  the  greatness 
and  excellency  of  love  and  praise,  though  I  coldly 
spake  the  same  words  in  its  commendation  as  I  now 
do.  And  now  I  am  less  troubled  for  want  of  grief  and 
tears,  though  I  more  value  humility,  and  refuse  not 
needful  humiliation  ;  but  my  conscience  now  looks  at 
love  and  delight  in  God,  and  praising  him,  as  the  height 
of  all  my  religious  duties,  for  which  it  is  that  I  value 
and  use  the  rest. 

"  My  judgment  is  much  more  for  frequent  and  seri- 
ous meditation  on  the  heavenly  blessedness,  than  it 
was  in  my  younger  days.  I  then  thought  that  ser- 
mons on  the  attributes  of  God  and  the  joys  of  hea- 
ven w^ere  not  the  most  excellent ;  and  was  wont  *o 
say,  '  Every  body  knows  this,  that  God  is  great  and 
good,  and  that  heaven  is  a  blessed  place  ;  I  had  rather 
hear  how  I  may  attain  it.'  And  nothing  pleased  me  so 
well  as  the  doctrine  of  regeneration,  and  the  marks  of 
sincerity,  because  these  subjects  were  suitable  to  me  in 
that  state;  but  now  I  had  rather  read,  hear,  or  medi- 
tate on  God  and  heaven,  than  on  any  other  subject ;  for 
I  perceive  that  it  is  the  object  that  clianges  and  elevates 
the  mind,  which  will  be  like  what  it  most  frequently 
feeds  upon  ;  and  that  it  is  not  only  useful  to  our  com- 
fort to  be  much  in  heaven  in  our  believing  thoughts, 
but  that  it  must  animate  all  our  other  duties,  and  for- 
tify us  against  every  temptation  and  sin  j  and  that  a 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


127 


man  is  no  more  a  Christian  indeed,  than  as  he  is 
heavenly. 

"I  was  once  wont,  lo  meditate  most  on  my  own 
heart,  and  to  dwell  all  at  home,  and  look  little  higher. 
I  was  still  poring  either  on  my  sins  or  wants,  or  exa- 
mining my  sincerity;  but  now,  though  I  am  greatly 
convinced  of  the  need  of  heart-acquaintance  and  em- 
ployment, yet  I  see  more  need  of  a  higher  work  ;  and 
that  I  should  look  oftener  upon  Christ,  and  God,  and 
heaven,  than  upon  my  own  heart.  At  home  I  can  find 
distempers  to  trouble  me,  and  some  evidences  of  my 
{)eace  ;  but  it  is  above  that  I  must  find  matter  of  de- 
light and  joy,  and  love  and  peace  itself.  Therefore  I 
would  have  one  thought  at  home,  upon  myself  and 
sins,  and  many  thoughts  above,  upon  the  high,  aud 
amiable,  and  beatifying  objects. 

"  Heretofore  1  knew  much  less  than  now,  and  yet 
was  not  half  so  much  acquainted  with  my  ignorance. 
I  had  a  great  delight  in  the  daily  new  discoveries 
which  I  made,  and  in  the  light  which  shined  upon  me, 
like  a  man  tiiat  comes  into  a  country  where  he  never 
was  before;  but  I  little  knew  either  how  imperfectly  I 
understood  those  very  points,  whose  discovery  so  much 
delighted  me,  nor  how  much  might  be  said  against 
them,  nor  how  many  things  I  was  yet  a  stranger  to ; 
but  now  I  find  far  greater  darkness  upon  all  things, 
and  perceive  how  very  little  it  is  that  we  know  in  com- 
parison of  that  which  we  are  ignorant  of,  and  1  have 
far  meaner  thoughtsof  my  own  understanding,  though 
I  must  needs  know  that  it  is  better  furnished  than  it 
was  then. 

"  I  now  see  more  good  and  more  evil  in  all  men 
than  heretofore  I  did.  I  see  that  good  men  are  not  so 
good  as  I  once  thought  they  were,  but  have  more  im- 


128 


LIFE  OF  BAXTER. 


perfections;  and  that  nearer  approach,  and  fuller  trial, 
doth  make  the  best  appear  more  weak  and  faulty  than 
their  admirers  at  a  distance  think.  And  I  find  that  few 
are  so  bad  as  either  their  malicious  enemies  or  censo- 
rious separating  professors  do  imagine. 

"J  less  admire  gifts  of  utterance  and  bare  profes- 
sion of  religion  than  I  once  did  ;  and  have  much  more 
charity  for  many,  who,  by  the  want  of  gifts,  do  make 
an  obscurer  profession  than  they.  I  once  thought  tliat 
almost  all  that  could  pray  movingly  and  fluently,  and 
talk  well  of  religion,  were  saints.  But  more  observa- 
tion has  opened  to  me  what  odious  crimes  may  con- 
sist with  high  profession ;  and  I  have  met  with  divers 
obscure  persons,  not  noted  for  any  extraordinary  pro- 
fession or  forwardness  in  religion,  but  only  to  live  a 
quiet,  blameless  life,  whom  I  have  after  found  to  have 
long  lived,  as  far  as  I  could  discern,  a  truly  godly  and 
sanctified  life;  only  their  prayers  and  duties  were,  by 
accident,  kept  secret  from  other  men's  observation. 
Yet  he  that,  upon  this  pretence,  would  confound  I'.e 
godly  and  the  ungodly,  may  as  well  go  about  to  lay 
heaven  and  hell  together. 

"  I  am  not  so  narrow  in  my  special  love  as  hereto- 
fore. Being  less  censorious,  and  talking  more  than  I 
did  for  saints,  it  must  needs  follow  that  1  love  more  as 
saints  than  I  did  before. 

"  I  am  much  more  sensible  how  prone  many  young 
professors  are  to  spiritual  pride  and  self-conceitedness, 
and  unruliness  and  division,  and  so  to  prove  tlie  grief 
of  their  teachers,  and  firebrands  in  the  church  ;  and 
how  much  of  a  minister's  work  lies  in  preventing  this, 
and  humbling  and  confirming  such  young  inexperi- 
eniied  professors,  and  keeping  them  in  order  ia  their 
progress  ia  religion. 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


129 


"  I  am  more  deeply  afflicted  for  the  disagreements 
of  Christians,  than  1  was  when  I  was  a  younger  Chris- 
tian. Except  the  case  of  the  infidel  world,  nothing  is 
so  sad  and  grievous  to  my  thoughts  as  the  case  of  the 
divided  churches ;  and  therefore  I  am  more  deeply 
sensible  of  the  sinfulness  of  those  prelates  and  pastors 
of  the  churciies  who  are  the  principal  cause  of  these 
divisions.  0  how  many  millions  of  souls  are  kept  by 
them  in  ignorance  and  ungodliness,  and  deluded  by 
faction,  as  if  it  were  true  religion  !  How  is  the  conver- 
sion of  infidels  hindered  by  them,  and  Christ  and  re- 
ligion heinously  dishonored ! 

"  I  am  much  less  regardful  of  the  approbation  of 
man,  and  set  much  lighter  by  contempt  or  applause, 
than  I  did  long  ago.  I  am  often  suspicious  that  this 
is  not  only  from  the  increase  of  self-denial  and  humi- 
lity, but  partly  from  my  being  glutted  and  surfeited 
with  human  applause;  and  all  worldly  things  appear 
most  vain  and  unsatisfactory  when  we  have  tried  them 
most.  But  as  far  as  I  can  perceive,  the  knowledge  of 
man's  nothingness,  and  God's  transcendent  greatness, 
with  whom  it  is  that  I  liave  most  to  do,  and  the  sense 
of  the  brevity  of  human  things,  and  the  nearness  of 
eternity,  are  the  principal  causes  of  this  effect,  which 
some  have  imputed  to  self-conceitedness  and  mo- 
roseness. 

"  I  am  more  and  more  pleased  with  a  solitary  life ; 
and  though,  in  a  way  of  self-denial,  I  could  submit  to 
the  most  pubhc  life,  for  the  service  of  God,  when  he 
requires  it,  and  would  not  be  unprofitable  that  I  might 
be  private  ;  yet,  I  must  confess,  it  is  much  more  pleas- 
ing to  myself  to  be  retired  from  the  world,  and  to  have 
very  little  to  do  with  men,  and  to  converse  with  God 
and  conscience,  and  good  books. 


130 


tlFE  OF  BAXTER. 


"Though  I  was  never  mucli  templed  to  the  sin  of 
covelousiiess,  yet  my  fear  of  dying  was  wont  to  leil 
me  that  I  was  not  suHiciently  loosened  from  the  world. 
Dul  I  find  that  it  is  comparaiively  very  easy  to  me  to 
be  loose  from  this  worid,  but  hard  to  li\e  by  faith 
above.  To  despise  earlii  is  easy  to  me ;  but  not  so  easy 
to  be  acquainted  and  conversant  wiih  heaven.  1  have 
notiiing  in  this  world  which  I  could  not  easily  let  go; 
but,  to  get  satisfying  apprehensions  of  the  other  world 
is  the  great  and  grievous  difficulty. 

I  am  much  more  apprehensive  than  long  ago  of 
the  odiousness  and  danger  of  the  sin  of  pride:  scarce 
any  sin  appears  more  odious  to  me.  Having  daily 
more  acqiuiinlance  with  the  lamentable  naughiiness 
and  frailty  of  man,  and  of  the  mischiefs  of  that  sin, 
and  especially  in  matters  spiritual  and  ecclesiastical, 
I  think,  so  far  as  any  man  is  proud,  he  is  kin  to  the 
devil,  and  a  stranger  to  God  and  to  himself.  It  is  a 
wonder  that  it  should  be  a  possible  sin,  to  men  that 
still  carry  about  with  them,  in  soul  and  body,  such 
humbling  matter  of  remedy  as  we  all  do. 

"  I  more  than  ever  lament  the  unhappiness  of  the 
nobility,  gentry,  and  great  ones  of  the  world,  who  live 
in  such  temptation  to  sensuality,  curiosity,  anrt  wast- 
ing of  their  time  about  a  multitude  of  little  things  ;  and 
whose  lives  are  too  often  the  transcript  of  the  sins  of 
Sodom — pride,  fullness  of  bread,  and  abundance  of  idle- 
ness, and  want  of  compassion  to  the  poor.  And  I  more 
value  the  life  of  the  poor  laboring  man.  but  especially 
of  him  that  hath  neither  poverty  nor  riches. 

"  I  am  much  more  sensible  than  heretofore,  of  the 
breadth,  and  length,  and  depth  of  the  radical,  univer- 
sal, and  odious  sin  of  selfishness,  and  therefore  have 
written  so  much  against  it;  and  of  the  excellency  auU 


LIFE  OF  BAXTER. 


131 


necessity  of  self-denial,  and  of  a  public  mind,  and  of 
loving  our  neighbor  as  ourselves. 

I  am  more  and  more  sensible  that  most  controver- 
sies have  more  need  of  right  stating  than  of  debating; 
and  if  my  skill  be  increased  in  any  thing,  it  is  in  nar- 
rowing controversies  by  explication,  and  separating 
the  real  from  the  verbal,  and  proving  to  many  con- 
lenders  that  they  in  fact  differ  less  than  they  liiink 
they  do. 

*'I  am  more  solicitous  than  I  have  been  about  my 
duty  to  God,  and  less  solicitous  about  his  dealings  with 
me,  as  being  assured  that  lie  will  do  all  things  well, 
acknowledging  the  goodness  of  all  the  declarations  of 
his  holiness,  even  in  the  punishment  of  man,  and 
knowing  that  there  is  no  rest  but  in  the  will  and  good- 
ness of  God. 

"Though  my  habitual  judgment,  and  resolution, 
and  scope  of  life  be  still  the  same,  yet  I  find  a  great 
mutability  as  to  actual  apprehensions  and  degrees  of 
grace;  and  consequently  find  that  so  mutable  a  thing 
as  the  mind  of  man  would  never  keep  itself,  if  God 
were  not  its  keeper. 

"Thus  much  of  the  alterations  of  my  soul,  since 
my  younger  years,  I  thought  best  to  give  the  reader, 
instead  of  all  those  experiences  and  actual  motions  and 
affections  which  I  suppose  him  rather  to  have  expec- 
ted an  account  of.  And  having  transcribed  thus  much 
of  a  life  which  God  has  read,  and  conscience  has  read, 
and  must  further  read,  I  humbly  lament  it,  and  beg 
pardon  of  it,  as  sinful,  and  too  unequal  and  unprofit- 
able. And  I  warn  the  reader  to  amend  that  in  his 
own,  which  he  finds  to  have  been  amiss  in  mine;  con- 
fessing, also,  that  much  has  been  amiss  which  I  have 
not  here  particularly  mentioned,  and  that  I  have  not 


132 


LIFE   CF  liAXTER. 


lived  according  to  tlie  abundant  mercits  of  the  Lord. 
But  what  I  have  recorded,  lias  been  especially  to  per- 
form my  vows,  and  to  declare  his  praise  to  all  gen- 
erations, who  has  filled  my  days  with  his  invaluable 
favors,  and  bound  rne  to  bless  his  name  for  ever. 

''But  having  mentioned  the  changes  which  I  think 
were  for  the  better,  I  must  add,  that  as  I  confessed 
many  of  my  sins  belore,  so,  I  have  been  since  guilty  oi 
m.any,  w^hich,  because  materially  they  seemed  small 
have  had  the  less  resistance,  and  yet,  on  the  review,  do 
trouble  me  more  than  if  they  had  been  greater,  done 
in  ignorance.  It  can  be  no  small  sin  which  is  com- 
mitted against  knowledge,  and  conscience,  and  deli- 
beration, whatever  excuse  it  have.  To  have  sinned 
whilst  I  preached  and  wTOte  against  sin,  and  had  such 
abundant  and  great  obligations  from  God,  and  made 
so  many  promises  against  it,  lays  me  very  low:  not 
SD  much  in  fear  of  hell,  as  in  great  displeasure  against 
myself,  and  such  self-abhorrence  as  would  cause  re- 
venge against  myself,  were  it  not  forbidden.  When 
God  forgives  me,  I  cannot  forgive  myself;  especially 
for  any  rash  words  or  deeds,  by  which  I  have  seemed 
injurious,  and  less  tender  and  kind  than  I  should  have 
been  to  my  near  and  dear  relations,  whose  love  abun 
dantly  obliged  me;  when  such  are  dead,  though  we 
never  differed  in  point  of  interest,  or  any  great  matter, 
every  sour  or  cross  provoking  word  which  I  gave  them 
makes  me  almost  irreconcileable  to  myself 

I  mention  all  these  faults  that  they  may  be  a  warn- 
ing to  others  to  take  heed,  as  they  call  on  myself  for 
repentance  and  watchfulness.  O  Lord,  for  the  merits, 
and  sacrifice,  and  intercession  of  Christ,  be  merciful 
to  me  a  sinner,  and  forgive  my  known  and  unknown 
sins  1 " 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


133 


Dr  Bates  has  drawn  a  full-length  portrait  of  the 
-character  of  his  venerable  friend  in  his  funeral  sermon, 
from  which  some  extracts  will  now  be  given. 

"He  had  not  the  advantage  of  academical  educa- 
tion; but,  by  the  Divine  blessing  upon  his  rare  dex- 
terity and  diligence,  his  eminence  in  sacred  knowledge 
was  such  as  few  in  the  university  ever  arrive  to." 

"  Conversion  is  the  excellent  work  of  Divine  grace: 
the  efficacy  of  the  means  is  from  the  Supreme  Mover. 
But  God  usually  makes  those  ministers  successful  in 
that  blessed  work,  whose  principal  design  and  delight 
i&  to  glorify  him  in  the  saving  of  souls.  This  was  the 
/eigning  affection  in  his  heart;  and  he  was  extraordi- 
narily qualified  to  obtain  his  end. 

"  His  prayers  were  an  effusion  of  the  most  lively 
melting  expressions,  growing  out  of  his  intimate  ar- 
flent  affections  to  God :  from  the  abundance  of  his 
heart,  his  lips  spake.  His  soul  took  wing  for  heaven, 
and  wrapped  up  the  souls  of  others  with  him.  Never 
did  I  see  or  hear  a  holy  minister  address  himself  to 
God  with  more  reverence  and  humility,  with  respect 
lo  his  glorious  greatness ;  never  with  more  zeal  and 
fervency,  correspondent  to  the  infinite  moment  of  his 
requests ;  nor  with  more  filial  affiance  in  the  Divine 
mercy." 

As  a  specimen  of  his  prayers,  two  quotations  from 
his  published  writings  may  be  given.  Addressing  the 
Divine  Spirit,  he  says,  "  As  thou  art  the  Agent  and 
Advocate  of  Jesus  my  Lord,  O  plead  his  cause  effec- 
tually in  my  soul  against  the  suggestions  of  Satan  and 
my  unbelief;  and  finish  his  healing,  saving  work,  and 
let  not  the  flesh  or  world  prevail.  Be  in  me  the  resi- 
dent witness  of  my  Lord,  the  Author  of  my  prayers, 
the  Spirit  of  adoption,  the  seal  of  God,  and  the  earnest 

L.  B.  12 


134 


LIFE  OF  BAXTER. 


of  mine  inheritance.  Let  not  my  nights  be  so  long,  and 
my  days  so  short,  nor  sin  eclipse  those  beams  which 
liave  often  illuminated  my  soul.  Without  these,  books 
are  senseless  scrawls,  studies  are  dreams,  learning  is 
a  glow-worm,  and  wit  is  but  wantonness,  impertinence 
and  folly.  Transcribe  those  sacred  precepts  on  my 
heart,  which  by  thy  dictates  and  inspirations  are  re- 
corded in  thy  holy  word.  I  refuse  not  thy  help  for 
tears  and  groans ;  but  O  shed  abroad  that  love  upon  my 
heart;  which  may  keep  it  in  a  continual  life  of  love. 
Teach  me  the  work  which  I  must  do  in  heaven ;  re- 
fresh my  soul  with  the  delights  of  holiness,  and  the 
joys  which  arise  from  the  believing  hopes  of  the  ever- 
lasting joys.  Exercise  my  heart  and  tongue  in  the 
holy  praises  of  my  Lord.  Strengthen  me  in  sufferings; 
and  conquer  t!ie  terrors  of  deatii  and  hell.  Make  mc 
the  m()re  heavenly,  by  how  much  the  faster  I  am  hast- 
ening to  heaven  ;  and  let  my  last  thoughts,  words,  and 
works  on  earth,  be  most  like  to  those  which  shall  be 
my  first  in  the  state  of  glorious  immortality;  where 
the  kingdom  is  delivered  up  to  the  Father,  and  God 
will  for  ever  be  all,  and  in  all ;  of  whom,  and  through 
whom,  and  to  whom,  are  all  things,  to  whom  be  glo- 
ry for  ever.  Amen." 

Another  specimen  may  be  given  from  Baxter's  con- 
clusion of  his  work  on  the  "Saints'  Rest." 

"  O  Thou,  the  merciful  Tather  of  spirits,  the  attrac- 
tive of  love,  and  ocean  of  delight !  draw  up  these  dros- 
sy hearts  unto  thyself,  and  keep  them  there  till  they 
are  spiritualized  and  refined  !  Second  thy  servant'* 
weak  endeavors,  and  persuade  those  that  read  these 
lines  to  the  practice  of  this  delightful,  heavenly  work! 
O  !  suffer  not  the  soul  of  thy  most  unworthy  servant 
to  be  a  stranger  to  those  joys  which  he  describes  to 


LIFE  OF  BAXTER. 


135 


others  ;  but  keep  me,  while  I  remain  on  earth,  In  daily 
breathing  after  thee,  and  in  a  believing,  affectionate 
walking  with  thee.  And,  when  thou  comest,  let  me  be 
found  so  doing;  not  serving  my  flesh,  nor  asleep  with 
my  lamp  unfurnished,  but  waiting  and  longing  for  my 
Lord's  return.  Let  tiiose  who  shall  read  these  pages, 
not  merely  read  the  fruit  of  my  studies,  but  the  breath- 
ing of  my  active  hope  and  love ;  that  if  my  heart  were 
open  to  their  view,  they  might  there  read  thy  love 
most  deeply  engraven  with  a  beam  from  the  face  of 
the  Son  of  God ;  and  not  find  vanity,  or  lust,  or  pride 
within,  where  the  words  of  life  appear  without;  that 
so  these  lines  may  not  witness  against  me;  but  pro- 
ceeding from  the  heart  of  the  writer,  may  they  be 
effectual,  through  thy  grace,  upon  the  heart  of  the 
reader,  and  so  be  the  savior  of  life  to  both." 

Dr.  Bates  says  :  "In  his  sermons  there  was  a  rare 
union  of  arguments  and  motives  to  convince  the  mind 
and  gain  the  heart.  All  the  fountains  of  reason  and 
persuasion  were  open  to  his  discerning  eye.  There 
was  no  resisting  the  force  of  his  discourses,  without 
denying  reason  and  Divine  revelation.  He  had  a  mar- 
vellous felicity  and  copiousness  in  speaking.  There 
was  a  noble  negligence  in  his  style;  for  his  great  mind 
could  not  stoop  to  the  affected  eloquence  of  words :  ho 
despised  flashy  oratory,  but  his  expressions  were  clear 
and  powerful;  so  convincing  the  understanding,  so 
entering  into  the  soul,  so  engaging  the  affections,  that 
those  were  as  deaf  as  adders  who  were  not  charmed 
by  so  wise  a  charmer.  He  was  animated  by  the  Holy 
Spirit,  and  breathed  celestial  fire,  to  inspire  heat  and 
life  into  dead  sinners,  and  to  melt  the  obdurate  in  their 
frozen  tombs.  Methinks  I  still  hear  him  speak  those 
powerful  words :  '  A  wretch  that  is  coudemned  to  die 


136 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


to-morrow  cannot  forget  it :  and  yet  poor  sinners,  that 
continually  are  uncertain  to  live  an  hour,  and  certain 
speedily  to  see  the  majesty  of  the  Lord,  to  their  incon- 
ceivable joy  or  terror,  as  sure  as  they  now  live  on 
earth,  can  forget  these  things,  for  which  they  have 
their  memory ;  and  which  one  would  think,  should 
drown  the  matters  of  this  world,  as  the  report  of  a 
cannon  does  a  whisper,  or  as  the  sun  obscures  the  poor- 
est glow-worm.  0  wonderful  stupidity  of  the  unrenew- 
ed soul !  O  wonderful  folly  and  madness  of  the  ungod- 
ly !  That  ever  men  can  forget— I  say  again,  that  they 
can  forget  eternal  joy,  eternal  wo,  and  the  eternal  God, 
and  the  place  of  their  eternal  unchangeable  abode?, 
when  they  stand  even  at  the  door ;  and  there  is  but 
that  thin  veil  of  flesh  between  them  and  that  amazing 
sight,  that  eternal  gulf,  and  they  are  daily  dying  and 
stepping  in." 

To  this  may  be  added  a  quotation  from  a  sermon 
preached  before  the  judges  at  the  assizes  :  "  Honora- 
ble, worshipful,  and  well-beloved,  it  is  a  v/eighty  em- 
ployment that  occasions  your  meeting  here  to-day. 
The  estates  and  lives  of  men  are  in  your  hands.  But 
it  is  another  kind  of  judgment  which  you  are  all 
hastening  towards;  when  judges  and  juries,  the  ac- 
cusers and  the  accused,  must  all  appear  upon  equal 
terms,  for  the  final  decision  of  a  far  greater  cause. 
The  case  that  is  then  and  there  to  be  determined,  is  not 
whether  you  shall  have  lands  or  no  lands,  life  or  no 
life,  in  our  natural  sense  ;  but  whether  you  shall  have 
heaven  or  hell,  salvation  or  damnation,  and  endless  life 
of  glory  with  God  and  the  Redeemer,  and  the  angels 
of  heaven,  or  an  endless  life  of  torment  v/ith  devils 
and  ungodly  men.  As  sure  as  you  now  sit  on  those 
^eatp-  vou  shall  shortly  all  appear  before  the  Judge  ol 


LIFE  OF  BAXTER. 


137 


all  the  world,  and  there  receive  an  irreversible  sen- 
tence to  an  unchangeable  state  of  happiness  or  misery. 
This  is  the  great  business  that  should  presently  call  up 
your  most  serious  thoughts,  and  set  all  the  powers  of 
your  souls  on  work  for  the  most  effectual  preparation  ; 
that,  if  you  are  men,  you  may  acquit  yourselves  like 
men,  for  the  preventing  of  that  dreadful  doom  which 
unprepared  souls  must  there  expect.  The  greatest  of 
your  secular  affairs  are  but  dreams  and  toys  to  this. 
Were  you  at  every  assize  to  determine  causes  of  no 
lower  value  than  the  crowns  and  kingdoms  of  the  mo- 
narchs  of  the  earth,  it  were  but  as  children's  games  to 
this.  If  any  man  of  you  believe  not  this,  he  is  worse 
than  the  devil  that  temptelh  him  to  unbelief;  and  let 
him  know  that  unbelief  is  no  prevention,  nor  will  put 
off  the  day,  or  hinder  his  appearance  ;  but  will  render 
certain  his  condemnation  at  that  appearance. 

"  He  that  knows  the  law  and  the  fact,  may  know  be- 
fore your  assize  what  will  become  of  every  prisoner,  if 
the  proceedings  be  all  just,  as  in  our  case  they  will  cer- 
tainly be.  Christ  will  judge  according  to  his  laws ;  know, 
therefore,  whom  the  law  condemns  or  justifies,  and 
you  may  know  whom  Christ  will  condemn  or  justify. 
And  seeing  all  this  is  so,  does  it  not  concern  us  all  to 
make  a  speedy  trial  of  ourselves  in  preparation  for  this 
final  trial  ?  I  shall,  for  your  own  sakes,  therefore,  take 
the  boldness,  as  the  officer  of  Christ,  to  summon  you  to 
appear  before  yourselves,  and  keep  an  assize  this  day 
in  your  own  souls,  and  answer  at  the  bar  of  conscience 
to  what  shall  be  charged  upon  you.  Fear  not  the  trial ; 
for  it  is  not  conclusive,  final,  or  a  peremptory  irrever- 
sible sentence  that  must  now  pass.  Yet  slight  it  not ; 
for  it  is  a  necesFsary  preparative  to  that  which  is  final 
and  irreversible." 


138 


LIFE  OF  BAXTER. 


After  describing  the  vanities  of  the  world,  he  bursts 
forth:  "What!  shall  we  prefer  a  mole-hill  before  a 
kingdom?  A  shadow  before  the  substance  ?  An  hour 
before  eternity?  Nothing  before  all  things?  Vanity 
and  vexation  before  felicity?  The  cross  of  Christ  hath 
set  up  such  a  sun  as  quite  darkeneih  the  light  of 
worldly  glory.  Though  earth  were  something,  if  there 
were  no  better  to  be  had,  it  is  nothing  when  heaven 
standeth  by." 

Dr.  Bates  further  remarks :  "  Besides,  his  wonderful 
diligence  in  catechising  the  particular  families  under 
his  charge  was  exceeding  useful  to  plant  religion  in 
them.  Personal  instruction,  and  application  of  divine 
truths,  has  an  excellent  advantage  and  efficacy  to  in- 
sinuate and  infuse  religion  into  the  minds  and  hearts 
of  men,  and,  by  the  conversion  of  parents  and  masterri 
to  reform  whole  families  that  are  under  their  imnie 
diate  direction  and  government.  His  unwearied  indus 
try  to  do  good  to  his  flock,  was  answered  by  corres 
pondent  love  and  thankfulness.  He  was  an  angel  in 
their  esteem.   He  would  often  speak  with  great  com- 
placence of  their  dear  affections;  and,  a  little  before 
his  death,  said,  '  He  believed  they  were  more  expres 
sive  of  kindness  to  him,  than  the  Christian  convertfs 
were  to  the  apostle  Paul,  by  what  appears  in  hia 
writings.'  " 

"  His  books,  for  their  number  and  the  variety  of  mat- 
ter in  them,  make  a  library.  They  contain  a  treasure 
of  controversial,  casuistical,  positive,  and  practical  di 
vinity.  Of  them  I  shall  relate  the  words  of  one  whose 
exact  judgment,  joined  with  his  moderation,  will  give 
a  great  value  to  his  testimony  ;  they  are  those  of  Dr. 
Wilkins,  afterwards  bishop  of  Chester.  He  said  thai 
Mr.  Baxter  had  '  cultivated  every  subject  he  handled 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


139 


and  'if  he  had  lived  in  the  primitive  times, he  had  been 
one  of  the  fathers  of  the  church,'  and  '  that  it  was 
enough  for  one  age  to  produce  such  a  person  as  Mr. 
Baxter.'  Indeed,  he  had  such  an  amplitude  in  his 
thoughts,  such  a  vivacity  of  imagination,  and  such  so- 
lidity and  depth  of  judgment  as  rarely  meet  in  one 
man.  His  inquiring  mind  was  freed  from  the  serviln 
dejection  and  bondage  of  an  implicit  faith.  He  adhered 
to  the  Scriptures  as  the  perfect  rule  of  faith,  and 
searched  whether  the  doctrines  received  and  taught 
were  consonant  to  it.  This  is  the  duty  of  every  Chris- 
tian according  to  his  capacity,  especially  of  minis- 
ters, and  the  necessary  means  to  open  the  mind  for 
Divine  knowledge,  and  for  the  advancement  of  the 
truth." 

"  His  books  of  practical  divinity  have  been  effectual 
for  more  numerous  conversions  of  sinners  to  God  than 
any  printed  in  our  time  ;  and  while  the  church  remains 
on  earth,  will  be  of  continual  efficacy  to  recover  lost 
souls.  There  is  a  vigorous  pulse  in  them  that  keeps  the 
reader  awake  and  attentive.  His  book  of  the  'Saints' 
Everlasting  Rest,'  was  written  by  him  when  languish- 
ing in  the  suspense  of  life  and  death,  but  has  the  sig- 
natures of  his  holy  and  vigorous  mind.  To  allure  our 
desires,  he  unveils  the  sanctuary  above,  and  discovers 
the  glory  and  joys  oi'  the  blessed  in  the  Divine  pre- 
sence, by  a  light  so  strong  and  lively,  that  all  the  gl.t- 
tering  vanities  of  this  world  vanish  in  that  comparison, 
and  a  sincere  believer  will  despise  them,  as  one  of  ma- 
ture age  does  the  toys  and  baubles  of  children.  To  ex- 
cite our  fear  he  removes  the  skreen,  and  makes  the 
everlasting  fire  of  hell  so  visible,  and  represents  the 
tormenting  passions  of  the  damned  in  those  dreadful 
colors,  that,  if  duly  considered,  would  check  and 


140 


LIFE  OF  BAXTER. 


control  the  unbridled  licentious  appetites  of  the  most 

sensual." 

Baxter's  practical  writings  alone  occupy  four  pon- 
derous folio,  or  twenty-two  octavo  volumes.  If  a  com- 
plete collection  of  his  controversial  and  practical  writ- 
ings were  made,  they  would  occupy  fully  sixty  volumes 
of  ihe  same  size.  "  His  industry  was  almost  incredible 
in  his  studies.  He  had  a  sensitive  nature,  desirous  of 
ease,  as  others  have,  and  faculties  like  others,  liable  to 
lire ;  yet  such  was  the  continual  application  of  him- 
self to  his  great  work,  as  if  the  labor  of  one  day  had 
supplied  strength  for  another,  and  the  willingness  of 
the  spirit  had  supported  the  weakness  of  the  flesh." 
His  painful  and  incessant  afflictions  would  have  pre- 
vented an  ordinary  nian^from  attempting  any  thing  ; 
but  he  persevered  with  unwearied  industry  to  the  close 
of  his  days.  His  life  was  occupied,  too,  in  active  labors. 
In  camps  and  at  court,  in  his  parish  and  in  prison,  at 
home  and  abroad,  his  efforts  were  unremitting  and 
often  successful. 

Some  idea  of  his  sufferings  may  be  formed  from  the 
summary  of  his  diseases  given  by  his  late  biographer. 

His  constitution  was  naturally  sound,  but  he  was 
always  very  thin  and  weak,  and  early  affected  with 
nervous  debility.  At  fourteen  years  of  age  he  was 
seized  with  the  small-pox,  and  soon  after,  by  improper 
exposure  to  the  cold,  he  was  affected  with  a  violent 
catarrh  and  cough.  This  continued  for  about  two  years, 
and  was  followed  by  spitting  of  blood  and  other  phthi- 
sical symptoms.  He  became,  from  that  time,  the  sport 
of  medical  treatment  and  experiment.  One  physician 
prescribed  one  mode  of  cure,  and  another  a  different 
one  ;  till,  from  first  to  last,  he  had  the  advice  of  no  less 
than  ihirty-six  professors  of  the  healing  art.  By  their 


LIFE   OF  BAXTER. 


Ul 


orders  he  took  drugs  without  number,  till,  from  ex- 
periencing how  little  they  could  do  for  him,  he  for- 
sook them  entirely,  except  some  particular  symptom 
urged  him  to  seek  present  relief.  He  was  diseased  lite- 
rally from  head  to  foot ;  his  stomach  flatulent  and  acidu- 
lous ;  violent  rheumatic  head-aches;  prodigious  bleed- 
ing at  the  nose ;  his  legs  swelled  and  dropsical,  &c. 
His  physicians  called  it  hypochondria,  he  himself  con- 
sidered it  prcmiaiura  senectus,  premature  old  age;  so 
that  at  twenty  he  had  the  symptoms,  in  addition  to 
disease,  of  fourscore  !  To  be  more  particular  would 
be  disagreeable  ;  and  to  detail  the  innumerable  reme- 
dies to  which  he  was  directed,  or  which  he  employed 
himself,  would  add  little  to  the  stock  of  medical  know- 
ledge. He  was  certainly  one  of  the  most  diseased  and 
afflicted  men  that  ever  reached  the  full  ordinary  limits 
of  human  life.  How,  in  such  circumstances,  he  was 
capable  of  the  exertions  he  almost  incessantly  made, 
appears  not  a  little  mysterious.  His  behavior  under 
them  is- a  poignant  reproof  to  many,  who  either  sink 
entirely  under  common  afflictions,  or  give  way  to 
indolence  and  trifling.  For  the  acerbity  of  his  temper 
we  are  now  prepared  with  an  ample  apology.  That 
lie  should  have  been  occasionally  fretful,  and  impatient 
of  contradiction,  is  not  surprising,  considering  the 
state  of  the  earthen  vessel  in  which  his  noble  and  ac- 
tive spirit  was  deposited.  No  man  was  more  sensible 
of  his  obliquities  of  disposition  than  himself;  and  no 
man,  perhaps,  ever  did  more  to  maintain  the  ascend- 
ancy of  Christian  principle  over  the  strength  and  way- 
wardness of  passion." 

The  conviction  that  his  time  would  be  short,  urged 
him  to  prosecute  his  labors  with  unwearied  assiduity. 
Love  to  immortal  souls,  too,  exerted  its  powerful  in- 


142 


LIFE  OF  BAXTER. 


fluencc.  This  "love  to  the  souls  of  men,"  says  Dr. 
Bates,  "was  ihe  peculiar  character  of  his  spirit.  In 
this  he  imitated  and  honored  our  Savior,  who  prayed, 
died,  and  lives  for  the  salvation  of  souls.  All  his  na- 
tural and  supernatural  endowments  were  subservient 
xo  that  blessed  end.  It  was  his  meat  and  drink,  the  life 
and  joy  of  his  life  to  do  good  to  souls." 

Disinterestedness  formed  no  unimportant  feature  of 
his  character,  and  was  strikingly  marked  in  liis  refusal 
of  ecclesiastical  preferment;  his  self-denying  engage- 
ments respecting  his  stipend  at  Kidderminster;  his 
gratuitous  labors ;  abundant  alms-giving ;  and  the  wide 
distribution  of  his  works  among  the  poor  and  destitute. 
So  long  as  he  had  a  bare  maintenance  he  was  content. 
He  rejoiced  in  being  able  to  benefit  others  by  his  pro- 
perty or  his  labors. 

Fidelity  to  his  Divine  Master,  and  to  his  cause,  was 
conspicuous  in  all  his  engagements.  He  tendered  his 
advice,  or  administered  his  reproofs  with  equal  faith- 
fulness, whether  in  court  or  camp ;  to  the  king  or  to 
the  protector;  before  parliament  or  his  parishioners; 
in  his  conversation  or  his  correspondence.  He  could 
not  suffer  sin  upon  his  neighbor ;  and  whatever  he  con- 
ceived would  be  for  the  benefit  of  those  concerned,  thai 
he  faithfully,  and  without  compromise,  administered. 
In  his  preaching  he  "  shunned  not  to  declare  the  whole 
counsel  of  God." 

Dr.  Bates  remarks :  He  that  was  so  solicitous  for 
the  salvation  of  others,  was  not  negligent  of  his  own. 
In  him  the  virtues  of  the  contemplative  and  active  life 
were  eminently  united.  His  time  was  ?pent  in  com- 
munion with  God,  and  in  charity  to  men.  He  lived 
above  the  world,  and  in  solitude  and  silence  conversed 
with  God.  The  frequent  and  serious  meditation  ol 


LIFE  OF  BAXTER. 


143 


eternal  things  was  the  powerful  means  to  make  his 
heart  holy  and  heavenly,  and  from  thence  his  conver- 
sation. His  life  was  a  practical  sermon,  a  drawing  ex- 
ample. There  was  an  air  of  humility  and  sanctity  in 
his  mortified  countenance ;  and  liis  deportment  was  be- 
coming a  stranger  upon  earth  and  a  citizen  of  heaven." 

The  following  passage  from  his  interesting  impor« 
tant  work,  entitled  "  The  Divine  Life,"  may  be  con- 
sidered as  a  portrait  of  his  own  spiritual  character. 

"  To  walk  with  God,"  he  says,  "  is  a  phrase  so  high, 
that  I  should  have  feared  the  guilt  of  arrogance  in 
using  it,  if  I  had  not  found  it  in  the  Holy  Scriptures. 
It  is  a  phrase  that  imports  so  high  and  holy  a  frame 
I    of  soul,  and  expresses  such  high  and  holy  actions,  that 
I    the  naming  of  it  strikes  my  heart  with  reverence,  as  if 
I  had  heard  the  voice  to  Moses,  '  Put  off  thy  shoes 
from  off  thy  feet,  for  the  place  whereon  thou  standest 
1    is  holy  ground.'  Melhinks  he  that  shall  say  to  me, 
'..    Come,  see  a  man  that  walks  with  God,  doth  call  me 
'!    to  see  one  that  is  next  unto  an  angel  or  glorified  soul. 

It  is  a  far  more  reverend  object  in  mine  eye  than  ttn 
!    thousand  lords  or  princes,  coirsidered  only  in  their 
1    earthly  glory.   It  is  a  wiser  action  for  people  to  run 
and  crowd  togetlier  to  see  a  man  that  walks  with  God, 
,   than  to  see  the  pompous  train  of  princes,  their  enter- 
i|   tainments,  or  their  triumph.  O.  happy  man  that  walks 
I   with  God,  though  neglected  and  contemned  by  all 
about  him!  What  blessed  sights  does  he  daily  see! 
j   What  ravishing  tidings,  what  pleasant  melody  does  lie 
j  daily  hear  !  What  delectable  food  does  he  daily  taste ! 
.  He  sees,  by  faith,  the  God,  the  glory  which  the  blessed 
j  spirits  see  at  hand  by  nearest  intuition  !   He  sees  that 
in  a  glass,  and  darkly,  which  they  behold  with  open 
face !  He  sees  the  glorious  majesty  of  his  Creator,  the 


144  LIFE   OF   BAXTER.  j 

eternal  King,  the  Cause  of  causes,  the  Composer,  Up- 
holder, Preserver,  and  Governor  of  all  worlds !  lie  be- 
holds the  wonderful  nieihods  of  liis  providence;  and 
•what  he  cannot  fully  see  he  admires,  and  waits  for 
the  time  ^yhen  that  also  shall  be  open  to  his  view !  He 
sees,  by:  faith,  the  world  of  spirits,  the  liosts  that  attend 
the  throite  of  God  ;  ilieir  perfect  righteousness,  the.r 
full  devotedness  to  God  ;  their  ardent  love,  their  flam- 
ing zeal,  their  ready  and  cheerful  obedience,  their  dig- 
nity and  shining  glory,  in  which  the  lowest  of  them 
exceed  that  wljich  tiie  disciples  saw  on  Moses  and 
Elias,  when  they  appeared  on  the  holy  mount  and 
^  talked  v.ilh  Christ!  He  hears  by  faith  the  heavenly 
concert,  the  high  and  harmonious  songs  of  praise,  the 
joyful  triumphs  of  crowned  saints,  tne  sweet  comme- 
morations of  the  things  that  v>ere  done  and  suffered 
on  earth,  with  the  praises  of  Him  that  redeemed  them 
by  .his  blood,  and  made  them  kings  and  priests  unto 
God.  Herein  he  has  sometimes  a  sweet  foretaste  of  the 
everlasting  pleasures  which,  though  it  be  but  little,  as 
Jonathan's  honey  on  the  end  of  his  rod,  or  as  the  clus- 
ters brought  from  Canaan  into  the  wilderness;  yet  is 
n)ore  excellent  than  all  the  delights  of  sinners." 

His  character  may  be  summed  up  in  the  words  of 
T»Ir.  Orme :  "  Among  his  contemporaries  there  were 
men  of  equal  talents,  of  more  amiable  dispositions,  and 
v{  greater  learning.  But  there  was  no  man  in  whom 
there  appears  to  liave  been  so  little  of  earth,  and  so 
much  of  heaven  ;  so  small  a  portion  of  the  alloy  of  hu- 
jnanity,  and  so  large  a  portion  of  all  that  is  celestial. 
He  felt  scarcely  any  of  the  attractions  of  this  world, 
but  felt  and  manifested  the  most  powerful  afiinity  for 
the  world  to  come." 

END. 


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